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Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STR6ET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  1458C 

(716)  872-4503 


'^^> 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 

1980 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


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D 
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V 

12X                              16X                             20X                              24X                             28X                             32X 

■ 

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et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  ndcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mdthode. 


1 

2 

3 

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2 

3 

4 

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PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST: 


5 


A  DESCRIPTION  OP 


THE  GAME  OF  NORTH  AMERICA, 


WITH 


PERSONAL  ADVENTURES  IN  THEIR  PURSUIT. 


By  PARKER  GILLMORE, 

AxrrnoB  op  "gun,  kod,  and  baddlb,"  "peaibib  fabmb  and  fbaibie  folks," 
"all  bound  the  wobld,"  kto.,  etc. 


KEW  YORK: 

HARPER  &  BROTHERS,  PUBLISHERS, 

FKANKLIN     SQUARE. 

18Y4. 


i^ 


TO 


ARTHUR   BURR,  ESQ., 
3  ^chitatc  tijis  Book, 

IN  REMEMBRANCE  OP  HAPPY  DAYS 
AND  SINCERE  FRIENDSHIP. 


CONTENTS. 


^^B 

CHAP. 

^H 

L 

■■ 

II. 

Wm 

in. 

|H 

IV. 

^m 

V. 

^m 

VI. 

^m 

VII. 

wM 

VIII. 

^m 

IX. 

Wm 

X. 

."ft^B 

XI. 

XII. 

mm 

XIII, 

H 

XIV. 

9| 

XV. 

Wk 

XVI. 

H 

XVII. 

^1 

XVIII. 

|H 

XIX. 

;i9 

XX. 

^B 

XXI. 

^K 

XXII. 

FAOB 

INTRODUCTION 13 

THE  BISON,  GENERALLY  CALLED  BUFFALO 31 

THE   MUSK-SHEEP 57 

MOOSE-DEER 64 

CARIBOU 85 

WAPITTI  DEER 94 

VIRGINIAN   DEER 106 

THE   PRONG-HORNED  ANTELOPE 130 

BIG-HORN  AND  ROCKY  MOUNTAIN    SHEEP 143 

BEARS 148 

WOLVES 174 

FOXES 182 

HARES 188 

GROUSE 193 

ORTYX 218 

WILD    TURKEY 224 

WOODCOCK   AND  SNIPE 231 

WADING    BIRDS 245 

SWIMMING  BIR~9 249 

SALMONID^ 283 

STRIPED,  BLACK,  AND   COMMON   BASS 357 

MU8KALL0NGE  367 

1* 


hrr^ 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAOB 

SUMMER  RETREAT FrouUspiece. 

BUFFALO  RUNNING 37 

A  VETERAN 41 

BUFFALO  IN   SPRING   COAT 46 

MUSK-SHEEP.... 1 66 

MOOSE  CALLING.... 69 

CARIBOU  MIGRATING 84 

CARIBOU  IN  WINTER   COAT 87 

DIFFERENT  TYPE  OF  CARIBOU  HORNS 92 

WAPITTI  DEER 95 

VIRGINIAN   DEER 107 

PASSENGER  PIGEONS 126 

BIG-HORN 144 

GRIZZLY  BEARS 151 

CLOSE  QUARTERS 160 

CANADIAN  PORCUPINE '. 166 

GRAY  WOLVES '. 175 

PRAIRIE-WOLVES 177 

SWAMP  HARES 189 

MUSQUASH,  OR  AMERICAN  MUSK-RATS 191 

RUFFED  GROUSE 211 

PTARMIGAN 216 

WILD  TURKEY 226 


12  LIST  OF'ILLUSTHATIONS. 

FAQR 

WILSON  SNIPE 236 

WOODCOCK-SHOOTING 242 

AMERICAN  CURLEW 246 

CANADA  UOOSE 255 

THE  MALLARD 259 

BLACK  DUCK 272 

BALD  PATES 279 

TEAL 280 

RIVER  SCENE 336 

CAN  .DIAN  TROUT  STREAM 339 

THE  WILDS 342 

FLOODED  PRAIRIE 375 


ill  I 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


CHAPTER  I. 

To  lay  down  rules  by  the  observance  of  which  the  ma- 
jority of  bad  shots  may  become  experts  is  sufficiently  easy ; 
but  the  trouble  is,  however  great  the  determination  to  fol- 
low the  given  precepts,  so  soon  as  game  is  flushed  the  in- 
structions are  thrown  to  the  winds,  and  bang,  bang  go 
both  barrels,  with  the  same  hurried  unsuccessful  results  as 
previously.  That  more  birds  are  missed  by  shooting  too 
quickly,  I  assert  as  indisputable ;  and  knowing  this  to  be 
the  case,  why  will  it  continue  to  be  practiced  ?  For  this 
reason,  that  many  are  so  fearfully  nervous  that  for  the  mo- 
ment they  have  no  control  of  their  actions,  or  they  are  so 
timid  that  although  firing  off  their  gun  they  consider  a 
duty,  they  believe  the  sooner  it  is  got  through  with  the 
better:  neither  of  such  pupils  is  ever  likely  to  become  a 
crack  shot.  I  have  a  friend  who  is,  without  exception,  the 
most  unlucky  shot  —  I  was  going  to  say  the  worst  —  that 
ever  I  met.  We  at  one  period  very  frequently  shot  to- 
gether, and  each  evening,  on  our  tramp  home,  he  was  cer- 
tain to  tell  me  that  he  had  discovered  the  reason  for  his  ap- 
parent want  of  skill.  How  various  the  causes  attributed, 
would  be  beyond  possibility  of  enumeration ;  however,  he 
always  devised  some  means  of  counteracting  them — viz., 
by  stuffing  cotton  in  his  ears,  not  to  hear  the  spring  of  the 
game  I  to  wear  a  loose  collar,  so  that  he  could  the  better 


14 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


and  more  rapidly  bring  the  head  to  the  stock ;  to  discard  a 
waistcoat,  for  the  thickness  of  clothing  militated  against 
bringing  up  his  gun.  However,  he  was  always  wounding 
birds — at  least  he  said  so ;  for  constantly,  if  near,  he  would 
call  out, "  Don't  you  see  the  feathers  fly  ?"  which,  perhaps 
owing  to  my  less  keen  vision,  I  never  did,  save  it  were  the 
feathers  flying  ofE  with  the  bird.  Another  peculiarity  this 
gentleman  possessed  was,  that  although  he  might  have  dis- 
charged the  entire  contents  of  his  shot-pouch  without  bag- 
ging a  single  head  when  separated  from  me,  as  soon  as  we 
both  shot  over  the  same  point,  one  or  other  of  the  birds 
knocked  down  was  due  to  his  skill ;  doubtless  companion- 
ship re-assured  him,  or  induced  him  to  take  more  pains.  I 
would  advise  such,  therefore,  always  to  shoot  in  company, 
only  I  would  rather  be  excused  becoming  the  company. 
Of  course  occasionally  he  would  knock  over  a  bird,  but 
when  this  took  place  it  either  was  lost  or  took  no  end  of 
trouble  to  secure.  I  remember  one  instance  in  a  marsh 
where  we  were  snipe-shooting,  a  number  of  mallards  flush- 
ed within  easy  range :  following  the  report  of  his  gun,  one 
of  the  greenheads  left  its  companions,  sailed  round  several 
times,  each  circle  becoming  lower  and  less  contracted,  till 
it  dropped.  Half  an  hour  was  fruitlessly  wasted  looking  for 
it ;  my  friend  would  not  give  up  the  search,  so  I  went  for- 
ward alone ;  some  time  afterward  he  joined  me,  but  his  per- 
severance had  not  been  rewarded.  All  that  day  he  lament- 
ed over  this  lost  bird,  for,  like  many  of  our  fishing  friends, 
he  doubtlessly  thought  it  (because  it  was  not  bagged)  far 
larger  and  far  finer  than  any  obtained.  The  reason  for  the 
so  frequent  loss  of  the  few  birds  he  hit  was  this :  the  vic- 
tims seldom  received  more  than  a  stray  grain  outside  the 
disk  described  by  the  shot,  and  therefore  were  not  serious- 
ly wounded.  That  there  are  many  like  my  friend  I  know, 
and  I  fear  it  will  be  a  hopeless  task  to  endeavor  to  make 


THE  STOCKING   OF  GUNS. 


15 


them  good  shots ;  at  the  same  time  I  think  there  are  many 
bad  shots  who  might  be  much  improved. 

I  believe  that  too  much  importance  can  not  be  attached 
to  the  stocking  of  guns.  Occasionally  one  will  meet  with 
men  who  appear  to  do  equal  execution  with  either  a  crook- 
ed, straight,  long,  or  short  stock ;  but  such  are  rare,  and 
when  found  you  may  feel  certain  that  they  have  possessed 
unusual  opportunities  for  practice.  The  length  of  man's 
arm,  neck,  and  conformation  of  shoulder  are  so  various, 
that  seldom  will  a  gun  come  up  alike  to  different  individ- 
uals :  the  straight,  tall  figure  wants  a  crooked  stock ;  the 
short,  stout  person,  the  reverse ;  and  intermediate  figures, 
the  bend  between  both  extremes.  I  once  possessed  an  excel- 
lent gun,  with  which  I  invariably  acquitted  myself  credit- 
ably. The  stock  had  always  been  an  eye-sore,  for  it  was 
composed  of  objectionable  wood,  and  the  previous  owner 
had  chipped  and  scratched  it  so  badly  that,  after  length- 
ened hesitation,  I  determined  to  have  it  re-stocked.  How- 
ever, when  it  reverted  from  the  gun-maker  to  my  hands,  I 
was  surprised  how  indifferently  I  shot  with  it ;  but,  on  ex- 
amination, I  found  that  the  new  stock  was  much  straighter 
than  the  old.  Again:  being  in  the  neighborhood  where 
game  was  abundant,  when  I  did  not  have  one  of  my  own 
guns  with  me,  I  borrowed  from  a  friend,  and  my  execution 
was  so  bad  that  before  the  day  was  over  I  gave  up  in  dis- 
gust. This  gun's  stock  was  so  straight  that  I  doubt  if  any 
but  its  owner  could  use  it.  In  having  a  gun  made,  there 
is  nothing  that  should  receive  from  the  gun-maker  more 
careful  observance  than  the  figure  of  the  purchaser ;  for  I 
feel  confident  that  a  very  great  deal  of  bad  shooting  is 
made  through  want  of  attention  to  this  point.  Again :  a 
gun  should  never  possess  a  superfluous  ounce  of  metal  that 
is  not  necessary  to  its  safety.  When  we  start  in  the  morn- 
ing, fresh  and  vigorous,  after  a  good  night's  rest,  the  weight 


I  ?r 


16 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


may  appear  a  trifle ;  but  in  the  evening,  if  the  day^s  work 
has  been  severe — more  especially  on  grouse  moor  or  snipe 
bog — you  will  be  surprised  how  a  little  extra  weight  tells, 
and  will  induce  you  to  undershoot  your  game. 

Still  another  equally  important  point  is  the  strength  that 
is  required  to  pull  the  trigger.  After  long  practice  you 
may  get  accustomed  to  either  very  fine  or  very  heavy ;  but 
whatever  you  are  used  to,  that  retain.  With  the  tyro  it  is 
different.  Through  frequent  experiment  he  should  find  out 
what  weight  of  pressure  he  can  give  without  disconcerting 
his  aim  at  the  precise  moment  that  he  has  obtained  the  line 
of  sight.  By  imparting  this  knowledge  to  his  gunsmith  he 
will  commence  shooting  under  great  advantage.  A  deal, 
we  all  know,  depends  upon  a  good  start.  It  is  as  applica- 
ble to  shooting  as  to  life.  If  you  begin  under  advantageous 
circumstances  success  becomes  probable.  Success  begets 
confidence,  and  with  confidence  we  are  certain  to  shoot 
well.  An  habitually  bad  shot  has  no  confidence.  Con- 
stant failure  makes  him  doubt  his  ability,  his  gun,  in  fact, 
every  portion  of  his  shooting  paraphernalia.  Nearly  all 
persons  who  do  not  shoot  regularly  fire  their  right  barrel 
first.  When  such  is  the  case,  your  left  barrel  should  shoot 
the  strongest,  as  the  second  shot  is  generally  at  longer 
range.  A  good  workman,  however,  will  use  either  indif- 
ferently, a  practice  to  be  commended,  so  that  one  barrel 
may  not  become  more  worn  than  the  other.  A  fault  which 
a  great  number  are  addicted  to,  is  using  too  much  shot. 
An  ounce  of  No.  5,  or  any  of  the  smaller  sizes,  is  amply 
sufficient  for  a  twelve  or  even  ten  bore  gun.  However, 
if  you  have  reason  to  use  a  larger  grain,  a  quarter  of  an 
ounce  more  may  be  added  to  the  charge.  The  reason  for 
this  is  that  the  small  packs  closer,  and  thus  makes  a  more 
formidable  resistance  to  the  explosive  power.  For  strong 
shooting,  and  therefore  long  shots,  it  is  the  driving  force 


HINTS  FOR  BEOINNEKIS. 


17 


that  is  required,  which  you  counteract  by  surplus  lead,  as 
friction  is  increased  and  so  power  wasted. 

Old  hands  may  smile  after  reading  the  above,  and  justly 
say, "  The  fellow  has  told  us  nothing  new ;"  but  remember 
we  are  not  all  old  hands,  and  that  there  are  many  begin- 
ners, for  whose  benefit  these  hints  are  given. 

The  fly-rod,  like  the  gun,  can  not  be  too  light,  as  long  as 
it  possesses  the  requisite  strength ;  for  while  fishing  it  is 
incessantly  at  work,  the  respite  for  loading  not  even  being 
granted ;  thus  if  a  heavy  gun  after  a  hard  day's  work  will 
make  you  undershoot  your  game,  a  heavy  rod  will  have  a 
greater  tendency  to  make  you  a  sluggard  at  evening  in 
striking  your  fish,  and  the  result  will  be  about  similar  in 
both  instances.  For  the  trout  fisherman — he,  I  mean,  who 
fly-fishes  burns  and  rivers — from  twelve  to  thirteen  feet 
is  quite  sufficient  length  for  his  rod  to  be  (lake  fisher- 
men frequently  use  longer,  but  what  they  gain  in  reach 
they  lose  in  quickness,  a  loss,  in  my  estimation,  of  most 
serious  importance),  and  such  a  rod  should  not  exceed  in 
weight  eight  or  nine  ounces.  I  can  imagine  I  see  many 
cast  up  llieir  eyes  and  exclaim  that  such  is  mpossible  to 
procure,  but  let  me  say  they  are  mistaken.  I  have  owned 
several  of  that  weight,  and  with  them,  days  in  succession, 
have  taken  baskets  of  fish,  of  not  only  all  the  ordinary  sizes, 
but  on  one  occasion  killed  a  trout  nine  pounds  in  weight. 
As  I  can  not  help  regarding  this  as  a  performance  to  be 
proud  of,  I  will  relate  how  it  took  place.  A  couple  of  com- 
panions and  myself  were  encamped  on  the  margin  of  Mad 
River,  in  Oxford  County,  Maine.  Our  guns  had  failed  to 
provide  dinner,  so  taking  a  hazel  wand  I  essayed  to  cap- 
ture sufficient  chub  to  make  a  choicder,  a  description  of 
olla  podrida  stew.  Having  hooked  a  small  fish,  I  was 
about  lifting  it  into  the  canoe  when  a  large  trout  rushed 
from  underneath  the  birch-bark,  seized  the  chub,  and  al- 


18 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


though  I  gave  him  both  lino  and  time  to  pouch  what  had 
not  been  intended  for  a  bait,  on  taking  a  pull  the  chub  came 
away,  and  I  was  free  from  the  larger  antagonist.  Having 
caught  sufficient  small  fry  I  went  home,  brooding  over  my 
misfortune,  but  keeping  the  adventure  closely  locked  in  ray 
bosom  (selfishness  again).  About  the  hour  that  the  sun 
began  to  dip  behind  the  giant  pines,  I  had  made  up  my 
mind  to  the  course  I  would  pursue,  which  was  to  take  my 
pet  rod,  mount  a  cast  of  two  flies,  and  carefully  whip  the 
pool  from  end  to  end.  As  if  it  were  but  yesterday,  I  re- 
member distinctly  the  flies.  The  trail  one  was  ginger-col- 
ored cock's  hackle,  with  light  corn-crake  wing,  tipped  with 
silver ;  the  dropper  a  large-sized  moth. 

"  For  work  at  that  hour,"  I  hear  some  internally  mutter, 
"  the  moth  did  the  business."  No,  it  did  not ;  cock's  hackles 
of  all  shades  may  invariably  be  backed  against  the  field,  and 
the  cock's  hackle  on  this  occasion  kept  up  its  reputation. 
Down  on  my  knees  in  the  bow  of  the  canoe,  the  camp-keep- 
er holding  her  back  by  a  pole  in  the  stern,  slowly  and  cau- 
tiously I  fished  the  throat,  from  thence  down  into  the  less 
angry  but  wider -spread  current,  when  just  as  my  flies 
passed  over  an  eddy  that  divided  the  downward  flow  from 
the  backwater  there  was  a  splash,  rapidly  responded  to  by 
a  nervous  quick  movement  of  the  wrist,  which  planted  the 
hook  firmly  home.  I  doubt  if  I  exaggerate,  in  fact  I  think 
I  scarcely  state  enough,  when  I  say  that  thirty  minutes 
elapsed  before  my  trophy  could  sufficiently  endure  th(  ight 
of  a  landing-net  to  have  it  placed  under  him.  Thus  was 
taken  the  largest  river  trout  {Salmo  fontinalis)  I  ever 
caught.  But  to  my  rod :  it  was  made  out  of  cedar  from 
butt  to  tip,  did  not  exceed  nine  ounces,  and  was  the  most 
lively,  quick,  light  casting  treasure  I  ever  usedo  Cedar  fly- 
rods  I  have  heard  objected  to,  because  they  are  brittle ; 
doubtless  you  may  find  them  so,  and  your  casting-line  also, 


VAMIOUH  KINDS  OF  RODS. 


10 


if  you  change  its  use  into  that  of  a  whip-lash.  However 
ranch  I  admire  a  cedar  rod,  I  do  not  think  it  suited  for  a 
tyro ;  but  when  the  beginner  has  gained  experience,  and  is 
able  to  ofEer  an  opinion  and  use  a  fly-i^d  as  it  should  be,  I 
doubt  not  he  will  perfectly  agree  with  me.  A  cedar  rod 
can  seldom  be  purchased  ready  made,  as  tradesmen  dislike 
the  job ;  so  if  any  reader  should  wish  to  possess  one,  he 
had  better  go  to  the  very  best  workman  he  knows  of,  and 
give  him  an  order.     Even  then  I  doubt  if  he  will  get  it. 

Next  to  the  cedar  rod,  but  one  that  will  stand  any  amount 
of  fair  work,  is  the  split  bamboo ;  this,  I  think,  can  be  pro- 
cured even  lighter  than  the  former.  There  is  a  firm,  the 
Messrs.  Clark,  of  Maiden  Lane,  New  York,  who  make  this 
a  speciality  I  have  had  the  fortune  to  use  one,  and  of  their 
good  qualities  I  can  not  say  too  much  ;  but  their  price  is 
necessarily  high,  fi*om  the  care  with  which  the  cane  has  to 
be  selected  and  put  together. 

When  I  was  a  boy,  I  believed  Flint  and  Martin  Kelly, 
both  of  Dublin,  before  all  other  rod-makers.  I  have  used 
their  manufacture  over  a  great  portion  of  England,  Scot- 
land, and  Ireland,  and  did  not,  until  I  had  a  cedar  rod,  be- 
lieve that  <any  thing  was  made  that  could  compete  with 
theirs.  Old  bluff-blowed  lumbering  packet-ships  sufficed 
our  fathers  to  go  to  India ;  now  we  have  the  P.  and  O. 
Service,  with  canal  and  rail  across  the  Isthmus,  and  it  is  far 
from  probable  that  this  means  of  transit  will  always  suit 
our  childien.  If  Joe  Man  ton  was  to  rise  among  us,  I  doubt 
much  if  he  could  hold  his  own  among  modern  gun-makers. 

Some  persons,  particularly  Irish  fishermen,  are  attached 
to  double-action  rods ;  that  is,  rods  which  have  so  much 
elasticity  in  them  that  they  display  two  movements,  one  up 
and  the  other  down,  when  suddenly  used.  I  do  not  like 
them  for  more  than  one  reason :  the  movement  of  the  wrist 
in  striking  the  fish  while  raising  the  butt  throws  the  tip 


20 


VRAllilE  AND  FOREST. 


down,  thus  giving  quite  a  contrary  motion  to  what  is  in- 
tended. Again :  if  you  have  to  fish  against  the  wind,  they 
will  not  only  be  found  most  difficult  to  manage,  but  excess- 
ively fatiguing.  There  is  a  rod  made  in  Castle  Connell 
(principally  for  salmon),  after  the  above  pattern ;  it  has 
many  admirers,  who  doubtless  through  experience  have 
become  proficient  in  its  use ;  still  I  can  speak  only  from 
what  I  know,  and  ray  verdict  is,  leave  them  to  their  pres- 
ent advocates. 

A  combination-rod  has  always  been  my  horror.  I  mean 
such  as  fishing-tackle  shop  proprietors  guarantee  to  be  both 
a  perfect  fly  and  bait  rod  by  only  altering  the  tip.  If  per- 
sons will  but  use  their  brains  they  can  in  a  moment  see 
that  such  is  impossible.  The  two  cases  are  essentially 
different,  requiring  the  spring  and  elasticity  in  totally  dif-. 
ferent  parts.  The  act  of  placing  a  dull,  lumbering  tip  on 
the  first  three  joints  of  a  delicate,  pliant  trout-rod  is  really 
absurd.  However,  some  may  say,  you  will  find  a  medium 
between  the  two  more  generally  useful.  My  answer  is, 
what  is  worth  doing  is  worth  doing  well ;  and  if  your  in- 
tent is  fly-fishing,  the  most  perfect  rod  for  that  purpose 
should  be  selected.  If  the  river  is  so  discolored  or  swollen 
that  bait  has  to  be  resorted  to  or  you  must  go  supperless 
to  bed,  for  goodness'  sake,  go  and  cut  a  hazel  wand,  unless 
you  carry  a  bait-rod.  Hybrids,  whether  in  rod  or  gun,  are 
to  be  carefully  avoided.  I  remember  being  once  entrapped 
into  using  a  hybrid  gun,  in  the  township  of  Markham,  Up- 
per Canada.  It  was  in  this  way:  Going  through  some 
brush  I  flushed  a  quantity  of  woodcock.  I  stated  the  cir- 
cumstance when  I  returned  to  the  farm-house  where  I  was 
residing.  As  I  had  no  gun  with  me  the  host  offered  me 
the  use  of  his,  which  from  his  description  was  worthy  of  a 
royal  duke ;  I  therefore  accepted  the  offer.  On  production 
it  proved  to  be  half  shot-gun,  half  rifle — jihat  is,  the  right- 


VARIOUS  KINDS  OF  REELS. 


91 


hand  barrel  was  smooth,  the  left  rifled.  This  was  my  first 
experience  of  such  a  weapon,  and  most  probably  will  bo  my 
last.  The  game  was  found,  the  cover  was  close,  and  snap 
shooting  necessary.  It  was  of  no  use.  The  gun  would 
not  come  up,  or  the  game  come  down.  The  fact  was,  that 
the  shot  barrel  was  only  half  the  weight  of  the  rifled,  conse- 
quently the  whole  fabric  was  without  balance,  and  do  what 
I  would  my  aim  was  invariably  disconcerted. 

Of  the  joints  used  in  fly- rods  the  plain  sliding  one  is 
probably  the  most  convenient.  If  properly  fitted  it  should 
never  jam  or  work  loose ;  but  if  I  lived  on  a  river  I  should 
never  make  use  of  any  other  than  the  simple  splice,  for  the 
lashing  affects  less  the  action  of  the  spring;  and  if  a  few 
additional  moments  are  lost  in  putting  it  together,  the  re- 
turn is  ample  recompense.  But  I  fear  the  age  is  too  fast 
for  its  adoption. 

Having  given  ray  opinions  of  what  a  rod  should  be,  I 
will  now  go  to  the  reel.  Of  late  years,  at  least  since  I  was 
a  boy,  all  kinds  of  mechanical  inventions  and  appliances 
have  been  used  to  produce  a  more  perfect  reel:  and  there 
are  now  to  be  obtained  stop  reels,  multiplying  reels,  and 
reels  with  as  many  internal  cog  and  other  wheels  as  would 
start  a  clock-maker.  Of  these  complicated  apparatuses  be- 
ware, for  they  are  fraught  with  disappointment  and  vexa- 
tion of  spirit ;  the  old  simple  click  reel  is  the  only  one  that 
deserves  the  honor  of  being  attached  to  a  fly-rod.  Still,  too 
much  care  and  attention  can  not  be  devoted  to  their  con- 
struction. Every  screw  and  joint  should  be  as  perfectly 
finished  as  those  of  a  gun  from  a  first-class  manufacturer. 
The  barrel  of  the  reel  should  be  wide  in  proportion  to  its 
length,  for  you  thus  gain  power  or  give  line  with  greater 
freedom  ;  nothing  is  more  unsightly  or  more  awkward  than 
a  long,  narrow  -  barreled  reel.  Brass  is  the  metal  usually 
employed  for  their  construction,  but  the  newly  -  invented 


2^ 


PBAIBIE  AND  FOREST, 


alnminium  bronze  is  infinitely  to  be  preferred,  for  it  does 
not  corrode  or  discolor  with  the  action  of  the  atmosphere, 
and  it  is  less  liable  to  suffer  from  a  blow  or  fall;  mis- 
chances that  the  fly-fisher's  paraphernalia,  more  particular- 
ly in  a  rocky,  mountainous  country,  are  especially  liable  to, 
when  following  the  course  of  a  trout  brook,  for  stones  will 
be  slippery  and  fishermen  have  been  known  to  take  too 
much  grog.  Who  among  our  expert  salmon  trout  fisher- 
men can  not  remember  having  obtained  a  frightful  cropper 
when  precipitously  following  up  or  down  stream  a  heavy 
fish  he  was  fast  to  ?  I  do  not  require  to  tax  my  memory 
greatly  to  recall  half  a  dozen  such  casualties.  There  are 
various  methods  of  attaching  the  reel  to  the  rod.  Of  none 
do  I  approve  so  highly  as  that  by  which  the  reel  is  held 
fast  in  a  shallow  indentation  by  a  movable  band.  In  those 
cases  where  the  butt  is  pierced,  or  the  reel  held  on  the  rod 
by  a  brass  band  attached  to  it,  which  closes  with  a  screw, 
the  nutK  are  constantly  getting  lost  or  loose,  through  the 
thread  being  worn  out ;  moreover,  the  hand  not  unfrequent- 
ly  gets  chafed  by  coming  in  contact  with  the  edges  or  ter- 
mination of  the  screw. 

On  the  subject  of  fly-lines  there  is  great  diversity  of 
opinion.  Of  whatever  materials  they  are  composed  they 
should  taper.  Hair  and  silk  I  was  at  one  time  much  in 
favor  of ;  but  after  a  lengthened  trial  I  found  one  great  ob- 
jection—  the  two  materials  had  not  the  same  amount  of 

asticity,  so  that  a  heavy  strain  would  bear  more  severely 
on  one  material  than  on  the  other,  ultimately  causing  bri't- 
tleness.  A  plaited  silk  line,  which  has  been  submitted  to  a 
process  of  varnishing,  rendering  it  impervious  to  water, 
will,  I  think,  do  the  greatest  amount  of  work,  and  throw 
the  greatest  length  of  line ;  but  for  delicate,  light,  fine  fish- 
ing, nothing  I  know  of  can  surpass  the  old-fashioned  line, 
composed  entirely  of  horse-hair ;  for  they  are  possessed  of 


CASIINO  LINES. 


23 


more  vitality,  elasticity,  and  quickness.  In  the  selection  of 
one  of  these  every  foot  shl)uld  be  carefully  examined  and 
tested,  for  a  careless  slop-shop  maker  will  frequently  work 
in  short  and  worthless  hair,  possibly  in  the  centre,  which 
will  destroy  the  whole  fabric ;  for  if  the  line  be  once  broken 
it  is  useless,  it  matters  not  how  much  ingenuity  and  time 
you  spent  over  the  splice.  For  a  day  or  two  it  may  pass 
through  the  rings,  but  the  friction  will  wear  it  rough,  and 
it  will  catch,  sooner  or  later,  not  improbably  when  a  large 
fish  is  on,  for  then  the  strain  is  greatest.  Can  any  thing 
more  disgusting  be  imagined  than  taking  the  last  look  at 
eight  or  ten  yards  of  your  line,  perhaps  more,  rapidly  dis- 
appearing in  the  eddying  stream  with  your  casting-line  and 
flies  acting  as  advance  guard  ?  The  thought  of  such  a  catas- 
trophe is  enough  to  make  a  man's  blood  ran  cold. 

Casting-lines  should  also  taper,  and,  proA'ided  the  gut  is 
good,  can  scarcely  have  too  fine  a  termination.  Although 
a  great  many  disciples  of  the  rod  always  purchase  these 
ready  made,  every  fisherman  should  be  able  to  knot  one  up 
himself.  The  process  is  simple.  Select  your  hairs — coarse 
ones  for  the  top,  fine  ones  for  the  bottom — steep  them  for 
some  minutes  in  water  as  warm  as  the  hand  can  convenient- 
ly bear,  then  knot  them  together,  increjising  or  diminishing 
gradually  in  size  according  to  the  end  you  have  commenced 
at.  Care  must  be  taken  that  such  a  knot  be  used  as  there 
is  no  slip  to.  Th^  safest  I  know  of  is  formed  thus :  take 
tlie  ends  to  be  joined,  and  place  them  alongside  one  anoth- 
er, then  take  one  end  and  make  a  single  hitch  by  doubling 
it  back  and  passing  the  end  through  the  loop,  which  pull 
tight.  Do  the  same  with  the  reverse  end,  when  by  pulling 
on  the  line  both  will  slip  together,  the  strain  having  the 
tendency  to  lock  the  knot.  After  cutting  off  the  surplus 
ends,  take  a  fev/  turns  of  very  fine  silk  to  whip  them  down, 
and  the  smallest  quantity  of  varnish  will  add  much  to  the 


24 


PliAIBIE  AND  FOMEST. 


\ 


I 


arpearance  of  the  line.  There  is  no  amusement  that  I  wot 
of  in  which  it  is  so  requisite  fdr  its  lover  to  know  how  to 
make  use  of  his  hands  and  ingenuity.  Bad  luck,  or  what- 
ever you  choose  to  call  it,  may,  before  an  hour's  fishing  be 
done,  reduce  you  to  the  alternative  of  either  ceasing  work 
or  manufacturing  out  of  broken  fragments  a  new  casting- 
line.  Very  possibly  this  is  caused  by  the  fish  being  more 
than  usually  on  the  feed.  How  disagreeable  to  be  com- 
pelled at  such  a  time  to  halt ! — better  far  to  spend  ten  min- 
utes with  the  dry  end  of  gut  in  your  mouth,  the  more  rap- 
idly to  render  the  hairs  fit  for  knotting,  and  to  know  how 
to  put  them  together  afterward,  than  be  obliged  to  cease. 

The  rings  upon  your  rod  should  be  large  and  not  too  nu- 
merous ;  five  are  sufficient  for  the  lower  joints,  and  about 
five  more  for  the  tip,  supposing  it  to  be  a  rod  thirteen  feet 
in  length,  and  in  three  pieces.  In  America  I  lately  saw 
rods  ringed  on  both  sides,  so  that,  if  after  unusual  hard 
work  and  constant  use,  a  tendency  to  warp  was  evinced, 
you  altered  your  reel  to  the  reverse  side  and  thus  counter- 
acted it.  However,  the  better  plan,  I  should  say,  would  be 
to  use  the  reverse  sides  day  about.  The  only  objection  to 
this  double  arrangement  of  rings  is  additional  weight,  but 
that  must  be  very  trifling. 

Having  now  described  the  rod,  the  reel,  the  line,  and  the 
cast,  I  approach  a  subject  that  I  hesitate  to  touch,  viz.,  fly- 
tying,  for  I  do  not  think  that  any  one  can  become  an  expert 
but  through  constant  practice,  after  having  received  nu- 
merous elementary  lessons  from  an  adept.  I  believe  I  can 
tie  a  fair  fly ;  but  how  long  do  you  suppose  it  was  before 
I  reached  my  present  excellence  ?  Years :  and  even  now 
I  discover  wrinkles  and  nev;  methods  of  which  I  was  not 
previously  aware;  however,  one  rule  may  be  laid  down: 
never  to  take  a  turn  of  the  silk  round  your  hook  without 
purpose,  or  without  giving  it  sufficient  strength  to  keep  it 


FLY-TYING. 


25 


111  its  place  and  perform  the  duty  intended.  The  most  im- 
portant part  is  tiio  simplest  and  first,  the  securing  of  the 
gut  to  the  shank  of  the  hook.  Unless  this  is  attended  to, 
all  your  labor  is  vain  and  worthless — so  much  time  thrown 
away  and  wasted.  Here  comes  all  the  strain,  and  a  thought- 
less turn  or  two  will  cause  naught  but  disappointYnent. 
Some  anglers,  particularly  Irish  ones,  place  the  wings  on  so 
that  the  feather  points  from  the  hook,  then  double  them 
back  and  tie  ;,hcm  down.  In  this  method  much  practice  is 
necessary  to  form  a  handsome  head  ;  but  its  advocates 
claim  for  it  strength.  However,  I  have  so  frequently  found 
the  silk  slip,  and  the  feathers  consequently  point  in  the  re- 
verse direction,  that  I  unhesitatingly  condemn  the  practice. 
To  make  a  handsome  and  serviceable  fly,  I  have  always  fol- 
lowed the  method  of  putting  the  wings  on  separately,  care 
being  taken  not  to  injure  the  pile  of  the  feathers;  and  this 
should  be  done  last,  the  most  minute  drop  of  varnish  being 
used  over  the  silk  when  the  head  is  finished  off.  My  first 
effort  to  tie  a  fly  turned  out  a  thing  like  a  humming-bird, 
my  second  like  a  humble-bee,  and  so  on,  till  I  have  succeed- 
ed in  making  a  good  imitation  of  a  gnat.  Patience  and 
perseverance  have  done  this,  and  none  will  ever  excel  in 
fly-tying  without  exercising  these  qualities,  so  essentially 
useful  in  every  walk  in  life.  As  a  rule,  the  bigger  the  riv- 
er, a  superabundance  of  water  in  a  stream,  and  the  more 
boisterous  the  weather,  the  larger  can  be  the  flies  used ; 
but  in  summer,  when  the  rivulets  and  burns  have  become 
clear  and  low,  the  smallest  sizes  must  be  resorted  to,  thrown 
with  the  lightest  line,  from  the  most  unobservable  and  most 
sheltered  position. 

Three  flies,  their  coloring  and  component  parts,  that  I 
have  found  successful  on  almost  all  waters  and  at  every 
portion  of  the  open  season,  I  will  describe ;  in  fact,  I  have 
so  much  faith  in  them  that  I  invariably  use  all  three  in 

2 


g-J 


23 


rUAIBIE  AND  FOREHT. 


making  my  first  essay  on  an  unknown  river,  viz.,  the  red 
hackle,  hare's  ear  and  yellow,  and  black  hackle.  In  Amer- 
ica, on  the  small  trout  brooks,  I  found  them  equally  attract- 
ive, evidence  of  a  similarity  of  taste  in  fish  on  the  Eastern 
and  Western  Continents.  Fly  No.  1,  the  red  hackle,  body 
composed  of  rufous  wool,  twisted  in  with  tying  silk,  lower 
portions  of  body  to  be  fine,  gradually  increasing  in  thick- 
ness till  the  shoulder  is  reached.  Shoulder  of  bright  red 
cock's  hackle,  the  color  that  is  obtained  in  a  natural  state 
from  the  domestic  fowl,  game-fowls  generally  producing 
the  finest;  but  if  those  from  the  East  Indian  jungle-cock 
can  be  obtained,  you  will  possess  the  very  best.  Wings 
put  on  separately,  and  obtained  from  the  wings  of  the  corn- 
crake, shot  immediately  previous  to  their  autumnal  migra- 
tion. Fly  No.  2,  hare's  ear  and  yellow ;  this  has  a  tail 
composed  of  two  strands  from  the  larger  feathers  of  the 
guinea-fowl,  body  composed  of  the  fine  mottled  hair  off  the 
ears  of  a  hare,  mixed  with  fine  mohair,  of  any  of  the  inter- 
mediate shades  from  straw  color  to  olive.  The  mohair 
should  be  cut  short,  so  that  it  will  the  better  mix  with  the 
hare's  ear.  This  dubbing  must  .also  be  tied  in  with  the  silk, 
and  the  fly  should  be  large  at  the  shoulder.  No  hackle  in 
this  specimen  is  required.  Tiie  wings  from  the  large  wing- 
feathers  of  the  fieldfare,  each  placed  on  separately.  Fly 
No.  3,  black  hackle;  body  of  blue  wool  or  mohair,  finished 
at  termination  with  a  couple  of  turns  of  silver  tinsel,  black 
hackle  from  domestic  fowl  for  shoulder,  with  the  wing 
composed  of  the  feather  either  from  tail  or  wing  of  the 
water-hen.  The  angler  had  better  be  provided  with  vari- 
ous sizes  of  these,  as  rivers  are  not  always  in  the  same  con- 
dition, and  weather  is  variable.  For  me  to  say  that  other 
flies  will  not  kill  better  on  some  rivers,  or  at  least  equally 
well,  would  be  absurd;  but  those  described  I  have  found 
most  generally  useful.    A  handsome  and  frequently  very 


FISHING  RODS  AND  FLIES. 


27 


killing  fly  at  times,  particularly  in  blustering  weather,  is 
made  of  the  following  material :  Body  of  two  of  the  long- 
est and  most  rufous  strands  of  a  feather  from  a  brown  tur- 
key ;  these  strands  to  have  the  fingers  pulled  up  them,  so 
as  to  cause  the  fine  edges  to  stand  out  before  being  wrap- 
ped on.  Shoulder  of  brown  cock's  hackle,  with  brown 
grouse  feather  for  wing.  In  autunni,  particularly  if  the 
stream  should  be  clearing  after  a  flood,  I  have  known  this 
fly  to  be  most  effective.  However,  it  is  no  bad  plan,  if  you 
are  a  stranger  in  a  neighborhood,  to  get  hold  of  an  honest 
disciple  of  Izaak  Walton,  who  will  give  you  information, 
and  if  he  be  poor  very  probably  sell  you  some  of  the  con- 
tents of  his  book.  Except  for  sea-trout  fishing,  the  brill- 
iant and  many-colored  macaw-like  compositions  are  gen- 
erally useless  in  American  inland  streams ;  so  let  not  love 
of  gaudy  coloring  or  the  advice  of  inexperienced  persons 
induce  you  to  spend  your  time  and  money  on  such  fabri- 
cations. 

We  will  suppose  the  novice  accoutred  with  all  that  mon- 
ey and  judgment  can  obtain  in  the  shape  of  tackle  and  rod 
— at  the  same  time  hoping  that  his  garments  are  composed 
of  those  sober,  quiet  colors  that  are  least  observable;  for 
whether  in  shooting,  deer-stalking,  or  fishing,  attention  to 
this  is  all  important — to  be  on  the  river's  margin,  at  a  spot 
free  from  bush,  rock,  or  other  impediment.  The  rod  is 
carefully  put  together  (I  hope  it  is  a  spliced  one,  for  I  shall 
have  more  hope  for  the  beginner's  ultimate  success  from 
this  choice),  the  reel  attached,  the  line  drawn  through  the 
rings,  and  the  cast  and  flies  are  carefully  taken  off  his  hat, 
round  which  they  have  been  wrapped  (to  make  them  more 
subservient  and  less  obstreperous  on  commencing  work), 
and  made  fast  to  the  line.  Ere  an  attempt  at  the  first  cast 
is  made,  take  one  word  of  advice.  Englishmen  are  so  horsey 
in  their  proclivities  that  they  invariably  consider  a  rod, 


28 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


when  first  they  handle  it,  an  instrument  to  be  treated  and 
used  in  exactly  the  same  manner  as  a  carriage- whip.  From 
boyhood  upward  they  have  been  used  to  the  latter,  and  the 
Englishman's  hand  has  obtained  wonderful  cunning  in  crack- 
ing the  same.  Now  the  uses  of  whip  and  rod  are  essential- 
ly different;  the  one  is  performed  by  the  quickest  possible 
jerk,  the  other  by  making  the  widest  possible  sweep,  as 
free  from  angles  as  the  turns  on  a  race-course.  Get  this  in- 
formation, whatever  your  nationality,  so  grafted  into  your 
brain  that  you  will  not  forget  yourself,  for  on  each  occasion 
you  do,  you  will  pay  a  penalty  by  losing  a  fly,  probably  the 
trail  one.  I  have  known  some  persons  so  skilled  in  snap- 
pi'ig  off  flies,  even  although  possessed  of  considerable  ex- 
perience, that  their  custom  must  have  been  of  no  small  ad- 
vantage to  the  tradesmen  who  supplied  them  with  tackle. 

Supposing  the  angler  is  facing  a  river  which  he  is  desir- 
ous of  throwing  across.  The  rod  being  held  in  the  right 
hand,  gradually,  but  with  increasing  velocity,  raise  your 
rod  from  left  to  right;  when  the  line  is  straight  out  from 
you,  make  a  sweep,  and  bring  the  flies  down  upon  the  wa- 
ter with  a  half-circular  motion  of  the  hand.  This  last  move- 
ment will  raise  the  slack  of  the  line  and  cause  the  trail 
fly  to  strike  the  water  first,  which  should  always  happen. 
When  this  first  lesson  is  thoroughly  learned  with  the  left 
hand,  it  should  then  be  practiced  up  and  down  stream : 
when,  with  perseverance  and  attention,  such  precision  may 
be  gained  that  the  fisherman  can  place  the  flies  at  every 
effort  within  an  inch  or  two  of  the  desired  spot. 

After  having  said  this  much,  it  will  not  be  deemed  out 
of  place  to  mention  those  tradesmen  who  supplied  me  with 
the  important  portions  of  my  outfit;  for  so  much  of  your 
pleasure  and  comfort  depends  upon  them,  that  a  sportsman 
intending  to  prosecute  a  distant  and  lengthened  tour  through 
the  American  wilds,  would  be  guilty  of  committing  a  great 


SHOOTING   CLOTHES. 


29 


and  serious  injustice  to  himself,  if  he  did  not  obtain  the 
very  best  that  the  English  market  could  afford.  I  am  not 
foolish  enough  to  believe  that  no  others  than  the  individu- 
als I  mention  would  have  served  me  equally  well ;  but,  of 
course,  those  I  know,  and  have  not  found  wanting,  are  the 
persons  I  must  introduce.  For  fire-arms,  ammunition,  etc., 
I  would,  as  formerly,  go  to  J.  D.  Dougall,  of  59  St.  James's 
Street,  or  his  late  assistant,  A.  G.  Willison,  now  doing  busi- 
ness at  9  Railway  Api)roach,  London  Bridge;  a  farther  ad- 
vantage in  dealing  with  them  also  deserves  notice,  viz.,  that 
they  are  both  so  well  acquainted  with  North  America  and 
its  inhabitants  that  information  of  a  valuable  description  to 
the  sportsman,  on  nearly  all  subjects  connected  with  his  in- 
tended tour,  can  be  obtained  from  them. 

Messrs.  Strickland  and  Son,  of  14  Clifford  Street,  New 
Bond  Street,  I  can  confidently  recommend  as  perfect  in  the 
production  of  shooting  clothes  almost  impervious  to  wear 
and  tear,  at  the  same  time  gentlemanly  in  appearance,  and 
fitting  with  such  exactness  that  the  figure  will  not  suffer 
from  restraint,  but  permit  the  arms  and  limbs  ever  to  be 
free  for  prompt  action.  Although  armed  and  clothed,  I 
must  not  go  farther  without  alluding  to  your  foot-gear,  for 
nothing  will  militate  more  against  your  pleasure  and  pow- 
ers of  endurance  than  a  blistered  heel  or  pinched  instep. 
To  avoid  these  inconveniences  go  to  Waukenphast's,  10 
Pall  Mall  East,  and  if  he  does  his  duty  by  you,  as  he  has 
by  me,  you  will  be  more  than  satisfied ;  and  as  loss  of  time 
is  not  unfrcquently  to  be  regretted,  in  half  an  hour  fi-om 
the  time  you  crossed  his  threshold  you  will  be  in  posses- 
sion of  all  you  require.  As  water-proof  clothing  and  ground 
sheets  are  absolutely  necessary  for  camping  out,  as  I  have 
done  in  a  former  work,  I  recommend  Messrs.  Woolgar  and 
Co.,  of  Ludgate  Hill ;  their  bark-tanned  fishing  stockings 
are  perfection,  while  their  deer-stalking  and  fishing -coat 


mi 


30 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


can  not  be  too  highly  prized  for  rough  and  hard  service. 
Another  commodity  they  furnish,  although  receiving  its 
name  from  me,  I  would  strongly  recommend  no  person 
going  in  for  roughing  to  be  without,  viz.,  the  Ubique  bag, 
for  it  possesses  all  the  convenience  of  the  ordinary  sailor's 
bag,  can  be  turned  into  a  pillow  at  night,  or,  if  necessity 
compels  you,  if  in  a  canoe  or  open  boat  that  leaks,  you  can 
place  your  feet  in  it,  and  thus  be  thoroughly  protected  from 
damp  of  every  description.  Of  course  there  are  numerous 
other  things  you  may  advantageously  add  to  your  kit,  but 
do  not  forget  that  every  superfluous  pound  of  baggage  is 
to  be  avoided,  for  long  marches  on  tired  horses  have  to  be 
made,  and  rough  and  weary  portages  to  be  traversed,  across 
which  every  ounce  of  unnecessary  luggage  will  add  to  the 
fatigue  of  the  bearers,  and  not  unfrequently  produce  grum- 
bling and  lack  of  discipline,  two  objectionables  to  be  given 
a  wide  berth  to,  for  they  destroy  much  of  the  pleasure  at- 
tached to  roughing  beyond  the  boundaries  of  civilization. 


CHAPTER  II. 

THE  BISON,  GENERALLY  CALLED  BUFFALO. 

The  habitat  of  this  powerful  and  gigantic  animal  ex- 
tended from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  on  the  south  to  the  62d 
degree  of  north  latitude,  and  from  Kentucky  and  Indiana 
on  the  east  to  the  higher  ridges  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  on 
the  west.:  however,  this  range  is  now  much  contracted,  and 
in  a  corresponding  ratio  their  numbers  diminished.  Al- 
though buffalo  at  the  present  day  can  be  found  in  the  State 
of  Kansas,  yet  the  wholesale  butchery  they  have  there  been 
lately  submitted  to  has  caused  the  few  survivors  to  be  ex- 
tremely wild  and  difficult  to  approach ;  therefore  I  should 
advise  the  sportsman  to  direct  his  steps  farther  toward  the 
north-west,  to  the  valley  of  the  Yellowstone  or  upper  forks 
of  the  Missouri,  to  the  Saskatchewan  or  the  large  plains  lay- 
ing to  its  north.  From  the  increase  of  settlement  and  of 
travel  across  the  continent,  tiiis  game,  which  formerly  was 
migratory,  has  comparatively  speaking  ceased  to  be  so; 
thus  the  sportsman  will  not  now  be  compelled  to  follow 
them  over  an  extensive  range  of  country,  but  will  probably 
be  able  to  enjoy  the  pleasure  of  their  pursuit  all  the  year 
in  one  locality.  The  legitimate  methods  for  their  pursuit 
are  by  running  them  on  horseback,  when  they  are  shot 
with  a  very  large- bo -ed  pistol  as  the  sportsman  ranges 
alongside,  or  to  stalk  them,  a  rifle  of  great  power  and  cal- 
ibre being  then  necessary.  The  shoulder-shot  is  the  best, 
unless  the  animal  happen  to  front  you  and  expose  his  chest. 
Shooting  at  the  head  is  a  useless  expenditure  of  ammunition, 
and,  unless  to  turn  a  charge,  should  never  be  attempted. 


32 


PliAUUE  AND  FOliEHT. 


When  studying  on  the  distant  and  far-west  plains  of 
America  the  habits  of  the  buffalo  (for  tliough  this  name  is 
erroneous,  still  it  is  the  appellation  by  which  I  knew  them 
and  daily  heard  them  called),  or  pursuing  them  to  supply 
our  camp  with  food,  I  never,  in  the  retrospect  of  a  long 
and  adventurous  life,  enjoyed  such  perfect  health,  for  the 
air  on  these  distant  plains  is  the  purest  I  have  ever  breathed. 
Frequently  on  a  knoll  I  have  stood,  after  some  unusually 
hard  run,  inhaling  and  enjoying  its  freshness  as  the  thirsty 
traveler  does  a  cup  of  clear  cool  water  drawn  from  a  mount- 
ain streajn.  Each  day  you  perform  your  allotted  work, 
and  no  oir^s  are  sufficiently  weighty  to  be  dwelt  upon  or 
procrastinated  till  they  return  with  redoubled  force.  Your 
horses  are  your  companions ;  hardy  and  enduring  you  have 
proved  them  to  be ;  and  between  master  and  steed  a  bond 
of  sympathy  springs  up,  the  animal  being  all  reliance,  the 
owner  determined  that  the  confidence  shall  not  be  mis- 
placed. With  the  true-hearted  sportsman,  who  loves  hunt- 
ing for  the  pleasure  it  affords,  and  the  opportunities  of 
studying  nature  as  it  emanates  from  the  Creator's  hands, 
carnagti  when  useless  is  detestable:  unnecessarily  taxing 
the  endurance  of  his  steed,  or  paining  it  with  uncalled-for 
punishment,  is  a  crime  he  would  no  more  be  guilty  of  than 
the  honest  man  of  despoiling  his  friend.  Again,  your  gini 
or  rifle,  ever  a  willing  servant  when  properly  taken  care  of, 
requires  no  small  amount  of  attention ;  to  no  other  hands 
than  your  own  trust  it  to  be  cleaned.  However  high  your 
birth,  delicate  your  nurturing,  or  boundless  your  means,  to 
do  without  the  assistance  of  hirelings,  and  rely  entirely  on 
yourself,  is  far  from  derogatory ;  on  the  contrary,  it  is  de- 
serving of  commendation,  and  the  benefit  that  will  result 
in  after-life  from  such  lessons  can  not  be  too  highly  esti- 
mated. I  have  known  a  few  months  of  wild  Western  life 
do  more  good  in  forming  a  character  than  years  passed  in 


SSe 


PRAIRIE  SCENERY. 


38 


cities  or  continental  tour;  for  here  the  fop  forgets  his  folly, 
and  the  iiniiJ  and  nervous  becomes  self-reliant. 

Imagine  spread  before  you  an  immense  plain ;  in  what- 
ever direction  you  look,  the  same  expanse  of  level  country 
stretches  before  you.  Such  is  the  prairie.  The  dear  old 
ocean,  as  viewed  from  the  deck  of  a  vessel,  is  the  nearest 
simile  I  can  think  of.  In  both  an  almost  level  horizon  in 
each  direction  is  met  by  the  sky.  Nothing  in  either  is  to 
be  seen  to  break  the  stillness,  save  it  be  the  animal  life  that 
have  these  elements  for  their  home.  Although  this  may  be 
applicable,  as  a  general  rule  to  prairie  scenery,  there  are 
portions  less  monotonous ;  in  places,  heavy  belts  of  timber 
mark  the  margin  of  streams  that  ultimately  help  to  feed 
some  of  the  giant  rivers  of  the  American  continent ;  while 
as  you  approach  the  great  vertebra  of  the  country — the 
Rocky  Mountains  —  hill  after  hill  rises,  overtopping  each 
other;  again  frowned  down  upon  by  lofty  mountains,  beau- 
tiful in  coloring,  soft  in  their  distant  outlines,  and  grand  in 
their  irregular  and  picturesque  shape.  Moreover,  between 
these  hills,  almost  impassable  at  first  glance,  through  caiions 
and  gulches  you  can  thread  your  way,  perhaps  for  many, 
many  miles,  when,  perchance,  a  beautiful  meadow,*  thou- 
sands of  acres  in  extent,  opens  before  you,  rich  and  briglit 
in  the  abundance  of  its  grasses,  while  the  slopes  that  gird 
these  retired  retreats  are  covered  with  the  densest  and  love- 
liest of  indigenous  trees.  Such  spots  as  these  are  a  natural- 
ist's elysium,  for  game  of  every  variety  select  them  for  re- 
treats. The  buffalo  cow  comes  to  them  frequently  to  calve ; 
the  worn-out  fierce-looking  bull,  over  whose  head  so  many 
years  have  passed  that  he  no  longer  has  strength  to  keep 
pace  with  the  migratory  herd,  and  struggle  in  its  dense 
phalanx  for  female  favor  or  choice  croppings  of  pjisture, 


*  In  America  termed  park. 
2* 


84 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


retires  to  them  to  spend  in  abundance  the  winter  of  life ; 
while  the  graceful  deer,  the  timid  hare,  and  the  sagacious 
beaver  here  pass  their  lives  in  peaceful,  happy  contentment, 
except  some  adventurous  white  man  or  snake-visioned  red- 
skin should  pay  it  a  visit,  destroying,  as  man  ever  does,  the 
serenity  that  reigned  around  previous  to  his  advent. 

But  come,  the  morning  has  broken  clear  and  invigor- 
ating, breakfast  has  already  been  discussed,  and  the  horses 
have  got  a  rough  rub  over.  The  neighborhood  is  well  suit- 
ed for  a  gallop ;  for,  from  the  slight  shower  of  the  previous 
evening,  the  soil  is  springy,  and  fewer  of  the  indefatigable 
little  burrowers  —  the  prairie-dogs  —  have  undermined  our 
vicinity.  Meat. is  wanted,  and  as  we  start  our  minds  are 
made  up  that,  unless  successful,  the  sun  must  dip  the  west- 
ern horizon  ere  we  return.  Each  attending  to  his  own 
nag,  and  giving  an  extra  pull  upon  the  girths  ere  getting 
into  the  saddle,  at  a  sober,  steady  pace  we  start.  An  old 
practiced  buffalo-runner  (for  so  the  Western  man  terms  his 
favorite  and  experienced  horse)  will  quietly  settle  to  his 
master's  will,  for  from  experience  well  he-  knows  that  prob- 
ably a  hard  day's  work  is  before  him,  and  all  his  strength 
will  be  required ;  while  the  youngster  or  griffin  at  this 
work  frets  and  prances,  almost  pulling  his  rider  from  the 
pig-skin.  Forbear,  rider;  curb  your  annoyance;  give  and 
take  a  pull  upon  your  snaffle ;  soon  the  youngster  will  set- 
tle down,  and  this  day's  work  will  probably  teach  him  a 
lesson  that  will  act  advantageously  on  his  future  conduct. 

Discussing  subjects  suitable  for  such  occasions,  miles  are 
passed;  so  far,  with  the  exception  of  numerous  bleached 
bones  or  an  occasional  deer  or  antelope  track,  no  indication 
of  game  has  been  seen.  From  a  knoll  a  survey  is  made ;  a 
fresh  hole  or  two  is  taken  up  in  the  girths,  and  the  scarcity 
of  animal  life  commented  upon.  To  the  Indian,  of  course, 
the  blame  is  laid ;  war-parties  or  moving  villages  of  redskins 


...^su 


A  BUFFALO  DROVE. 


86 


arc  always  saddled  with  being  the  cause  of  every  disap- 
pointment and  annoyance  in  wild  life.  But  look  there ! 
What  is  that?  A  distant  cloud  of  dust.  Buffalo  for  a 
thousand,  and  advancing  toward  where  the  hunters  are  sta- 
tioned. IIow  is  the  wind  ?  is  inquired.  One  wets  his  fin- 
gers with  his  saliva,  and  holds  it  up.  In  a  few  moments 
the  position  is  declared  untenable,  and  both,  vaulting  on 
their  horses,  hurry  off  to  get  more  to  leeward,  availing 
themselves  of  a  swell  in  the  prairie  to  keep  perdu.  Having 
marked  well  the  direction  in  which  the  herd  is  advancing, 
keeping  as  much  out  of  sight  as  possible,  scarcely  speaking 
a  word,  and  then  not  louder  than  a  whisper,  the  distance 
between  the  hunters  and  game  is  rapidly  dim  mished.  From 
the  nature  of  the  ground,  no  longer  can  the>  oraain  hid ; 
80,  taking  their  horses  well  in  hand,  forvv;  they  dash, 
and,  in  a  few  strides,  what  a  sight  is  before  them !  Cows, 
bulls,  and  calves,  all  intermingled,  forming  a  straggling 
drove  of  thousands,  heading  in  the  same  direction,  and 
feeding  as  they  progress.  Occasionally  this  harmony  of 
action  is  disturbed.  Two  ragged,  clumsy-looking,  veteran 
bulls  approach  each  other :  perhaps  they  have  been  former 
rivals  for  some  dusky-hided  beauty's  favors.  With  a  deep 
bellow  one  throws  down  the  gauntlet,  which  the  other  is 
not  loath  to  take  up ;  and,  with  fire  flashing  from  their  par- 
tially hid  eyes,  each  rushes  at  the  other.  But  the  herd  have 
become  alarmed — a  foe  equally  dreaded  by  both  bulls  is  at 
hand;  their  rencontre  will  brook  delay  to  be  settled  at  a 
future  date ;  and,  with  a  startled  stare  and  toss  of  the  head, 
both  turn  and  rush  off  after  the  herd,  which  is  already 
making  a  most  hurried  stampede.  However,  when  the 
hunters  are  old  hands,  the  bulls  might  have  saved  them- 
selves the  trouble.;  while  young  cow-beef  is  to  be  obtained, 
none  but  the  veriest  novice  would  think  of  wasting  ammu- 
nition on  their  rough  and  rugged  old  carcasses.     No  time 


r 


36 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


is  now  to  be  lost.  These  animals,  unwieldy  as  they  appear, 
for  a  mile  or  so  are  wonderfully  swift,  and',  if  they  should 
gain  rough  ground,  will  beat  an  indifterent  horse.  Sitting 
well  down  in  their  saddles,  nags  in  hand,  at  a  grass-cou-^try 
speed,  both  push  for  the  sleekest  and  squarest-looking  cows 
they  can  mark.  The  pace  commences  to  tell :  the  distance 
that  separates  sportsman  from  quarry  is  rapidly  diminish- 
ing—  a  few  strides  more,  and  one  ranges  alongside;  the 
heavy  pistol,  which  has  till  now  been  secure  in  the  holster, 
is  taken  in  the  right  hand,  its  barrel  depressed ;  low  down, 
and  eight  or  ten  inches  behind  the  shoulder,  is  the  spot,  if 
shooting  forward.  A  puff  of  smoke  is  seen,  followed  by  a 
report.  The  coup  de  grace  has  been  administered  by  a 
master-hand ;  for  the  huge  animal  loses  the  power  of  its 
fore-feet,  comes  down  on  its  shoulders  and  head,  and  naught 
of  life  is  left  but  a  few  spasmodic  struggles.  But  where 
are  the  hunters?  Look  well  among  the  retreating  herd, 
and  you  may  occasionally  catch  a  glimpse  of  their  hunting- 
shirts.  A  few  moments  more,  and  another  shot  is  fired — 
this  time  not  so  successfully.  Again  the  report  of  fire-arms; 
still  the  quarry  retains  her  legs,  but  blood  is  ulready  pour- 
ing from  her  nose,  an  indication  that  surely  tells  of  speedy 
demise;  so  stop,  let  the  poor  creature  die  in  peace;  aggra- 
vate not  her  last  moments. 

The  scene  which  I  have  tried  to  describe  took  place 
about  ten  miles  to  the  south  side  of  the  Yellowstone  Riv- 
er. An  old  and  tried  friend  from  Germany  was  my  com- 
panion, and  on  this  occasion  we  each  killed  two  cows. 
Double  this  number,  or  even  more,  could  have  been  shot 
without  trouble ;  but  the  requisite  amount  of  beef  had  been 
obtained,  and  I  was  jealous  of  liusbanding  the  strength  of 
my  horse,  for  then,  as  now,  but  little  reliance  could  be 
placed  on  the  professed  peaceful  intentions  of  the  Indians. 
The  range  of  the  buffalo,  I  have  said,  was  at  one  period 


i 


.36  /;  FfiRmr.  ' 

is  viov.  ••  unimals,  uRwiuidy  ns  ihcy  n 

akrfuUy  swift,  and     '  ''       siiuui..! 
'     ^    a  indifferent  iioriiu.      ~    nnjj; 

^^'   '  a;d,  atagrasia-couiitry 

>iuc»vcsi  ujuvi  squarcst-looking  cows 

0  commences  to  tell;  the  distance 

ui(.:3  hpuruman  from  quarry  ia  rapi<lly  dinainish- 

.   4~    ;.  Lew  Btridea  more,  and  one  ranges  alongside;   the 

tol,  which  has  till  now  been  secure  in  the  holster, 

in  the  riglit  baud,  its  barrel  depressed;  low  down, 

•■*     •  *'  >  inches  behind  the  shoulder,  is  the  ^>pot,  if 

'.  .  .  V    r  sjiiioj^jj  is  s(>en,  foUowc  I  '• 

hiia  been  adminT  '  *-  .;, 

'  imal  lo.sea  the  j-.'^v. 

;.  -.( alders  and  head,  and  T' 

'■'~  ..-jfiismodic  stnrr'r'  '"      T*  .  ,,; 

i;',  'uiiU-:-.      i..«...  well  among  tin,  ivti>  inug  ia^vd, 

nay  occasionally  catch  a  glimpse  of  their  hunting- 

■  ;M  .     A  few  moments  more,  and  another  shot  is  fired — 

'  \'is  time  not  so  successfully.    Again  the  report  of  ^  •"  " '  fns; 

^':Uthe  q«f»v"'-  '—■*"--  ?■—  '*>  ■  ■   'mU  bl.H-1  *«■.:'  i--. 


bv:v    ■ 
sh-.-. 

wpor 


Its 


C4t  bilrst  . 


I    ^1.»\    >.i  ■,,!!•    m'l.ifm 


vate  not  it. 

Tlie  scene 
;ii:,(>Mf  f.^n  miles  v 
er.  old  and  trieu   . . 

pu;.     .,   ind  on   this   occ.*^. 


C        '\u  t< 


» eiiowstone  liiv- 
anv  was  mv  ecia- 
killed  two  cow«. 


1^ 


'•  this  number,  or  even  uiore,  could  have  been  shot 

f  frnnblr  :  V^it  the  requisite  amount  of  l)eef  had  been 

^  iealo'.s  of  husbanding  the  '^Jtrenofth  of 

;.g  now,  but  little  reliaie. Jd  be 


1 


d  i^cri.H'fnl  iritcnt.'onr;  -if  the  Tr-'Mn-- 


rhe 


')n- 


' 


r 


THE  BUFFALO. 


39 


much  more  extensive  than  at  present.  The  same  reasons 
that  have  decreased,  and  in  some  instances  almost  annihi- 
lated, other  genera,  can  be  safely  urged  as  the  cause  of  this 
—the  cultivation  of  wild  lands  and  the  unprecedented  in- 
crease of  inhabitants  on  the  American  continent.  On  the 
eastern  limit  of  the  Grand  Prairie,  in  Illinois,  I  have  fre- 
quently found  bones  of  the  buffalo,  telling  too  plainly  that 
this  had  once  been  his  home.  At  the  present  day,  at  least 
twelve  hundred  miles  farther  westwara  must  be  traversed 
before  the  sportsman  can  hope  for  a  chance  to  use  his  rifle 
on  this  game;  and  year  after  year  farther  distances  will  re- 
quire to  be  journeyed  to  accomplish  this  purpose.  Their 
southern  limits  are  Northern  Texas  and  New  Mexico,  while 
the  intermediate  expanse  up  to  sixty-five  degrees  of  north 
latitude,  according  to  the  season,  contains  them  in  more  or 
less  abundance.  Of  late  years  their  range  north  has  been 
increased  between  three  and  four  degrees,  so  that  Indians 
who  formerly  had  to  come  two  hundred  or  more  miles,  if 
desirous  of  obtaining  a  supply  of  beef  for  winter  use,  have 
the  animals  now  on  their  home  hunting-grounds.  I  am  dis- 
posed to  believe  that  this  is  caused  from  their  finding  these 
northern  reorions  less  disturbed  —  for  this  is  far  north  of 
where  the  constant  tide  of  emigrants  crosses  the  plains — 
and  that  the  poor,  persecuted  creatures  prefer  suffering 
from  the  cold  of  these  inhospitable  localities  to  facing  the 
dangers  that  always  are  connected  with  a  rencontre  with 
the  pale-face.  Although  the  buffalo  can  endure  a  great 
amount  of  cold,  and  find  food  even  after  a  thick  covering 
of  snow  lays  upon  the  earth,  yet  he  is  not  provided  like  the 
mnsk-sheep  for  an  Arctic  winter,  and  from  his  greater  bulk 
requires  so  much*  sustenance,  that  a  protracted  sojourn  in 
the  northern  barrens  must  ultimately  have  the  result  of  re- 
ducing his  stre:?gth,  and  therefore  his  fitness  to  cope  with 
the  severity  of  the  climate.    Again,  he  has  other  enemies 


I 


40 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


as  well  as  man.  The  wolves  seldom  leave  him  alone.  Day 
and  night  they  bestow  upon  him  the  most  devoted  atten- 
tion. However,  as  long  as  he  is  in  good  health  he  has  lit- 
tle to  fear  from  the  marauder ;  but  the  moment  that  acci- 
dent, sickness,  or  loss  of  strength  from  starvation  occurs, 
the  buffalo's  unhappy  position  is  known,  and  half  a  dozen 
of  these  robbers  will  remain  night  and  day  watching  for  an 
opportunity  to  complete  the  wreck ;  and  should  this  not  oc- 
cur as  soon  as  desirable,  not  unfrequently  they  will  make 
a  simultaneous  assault,  one  pretending  to  fly  at  the  victim's 
head,  while  another  attacks  in  the  rear,  using  every  arti- 
fice to  cut  the  buffalo's  hamstring,  in  which  they  invariably 
succeed,  unless  the  presence  of  man  should  disturb  them. 

On  one  occasion,  while  hunting,  I  obtained  an  excellent 
opportunity  of  witnessing  one  of  these  encounters.  At  the 
distance  of  half  a  mile  I  perceived  an  old  bull  going  through 
a  variety  of  eccentric  movements,  which  were  at  the  mo- 
ment perfectly  incomprehensible.  To  know  what  might  be 
the  cause,  as  well  as  perhaps  to  learn  something  new  re- 
garding this  race,  I  left  my  horse  and  made  a  most  careful 
stalk  without  once  exposing  myself,  retaining  the  advan- 
tage of  wind  till  within  a  hundred  yards  of  the  old  gentle- 
man. The  ground  in  the  vicinity  was  much  broken,  and, 
before  attempting  to  obtain  a  survey  of  the  situation,  I  en- 
sconced myself  behind  a  boulder,  I  had  been  eminently 
successful,  the  first  glance  told  me.  There  was  the  bull 
pretending  to  feed,  while  four  prairie-wolves  were  lying 
around  him  on  the  sparsely  covered  soil,  tongues  out,  and 
evidently  short  of  breath  from  some  excessive  exertion. 
None  of  the  dramatis  personoB  had  seen  me,  and  I  chuckled 
in  my  shoes  as  I  grasped  more  firmly  my  double  barrel, 
knowing  how  soon  I  could  turn  the  tide  of  battle.  By-the- 
way,  the  prairie-wolf  has  always  been  a  favorite  of  mine, 
as  well  as  his  half-brother,  the  coyote.     Their  bark  has  oft- 


s 


I 


'■'ORJ>..''T 


MS  ^v•  H  'kn  T  --       '  ■  0  wolves  ;se!tloii\  ic'ivo  him  ul.  it*.     Day 

>\v  TTTHMi  him  the-  most  devotctJ  atton- 
hc  is  ill  good  health  ho  h:is  llt- 
<ier ;  but  tho  moment  that  acci- 
£  strength  from  starvation  occurs, 
.     .,  'i.^ition  is  known,  antl  lialf  a  clozen 

H'Se  ro:  rointiiu  night  and^lay  watching  for  an 

opportunity,  nplote  the  wreck;  and  should  this  not  oc- 

cur as  soon  an  desirable,  not  uuf  requontly  they  will  make 
a  simultaneous  assault,  one  pretending  to  fly  at  the  victim's 
head,  while  another  attacks  in  the  "rear,  using  every  arti- 
fice to  cut  the  buffalo's  haiusiring,  in  which  tlnv  iiivarii\hly 
.succeod,  unless  tiie  presence  of  m?m  should 

()!'  cca^ion.  whili-  huntin<7.  I  obtained  an  excelh'nt. 

se  encouiHo.T 
<h  '  i  bull    •  iu'ougb 

eraen:  it  the  mo- 

ment perfectly  incomprehensible.  To  know  what  might,  be 
the  cause,  as  well  as  perhaps  to  learn  something  new  re- 
garding this  race,  I  left  my  horse  and  made  a  most  careful 
stalk  without  once  exposing  myself,  retaiaini?  the  arlvan- 
tago  of  wind  till  v,  I  yards  of  i/ 

tnun  ound  in  the  .uivi, 

befoi .  survey  of  the  situation,  I  en- 

sconced mysel;  I  had  been  eminently 

successful,  the  first  >  >       fhere  was  the  bull 

f>retending  to  feed,  wliiio  four  pr^^irie-wolv  o  lying 

; found  him  on  the  sparsely  covered  soil,  "t  out,  and 

.    .,'f  breath  from   some  excessive  exertion. 
(imatis  peraonm  had  seen  mo,  ard  I  chuckleil 
asped  m  ■         mly  my  double  barrel, 
lid  turn  the  tide  of  battle,     By-the- 
dways  been  a  favorite  of  mine, 


kitow 

way,  th(^ 

as  5»'eU  as  his  t. 


coyote.     Th»  iv  l>ark  has  oft- 


!l         i 


f 


i 


PRAIRIE -WOLVES  ATTACKING  A  BUFFALO. 


43 


en  recalled  pleasant  memories,  and  their  services  have  sev- 
eral times  recovered  a  wounded  deer.     In  a  few  minutes 
the  apparent  ringleader  of  the  quartette  got  up  and  shook 
himself.    This  was  the  signal  for  the  others  to  get  upon 
their  pins.    Prairie-wolf  number  one  walked  quietly  toward 
the  bull,  occasionally  stopping  (after  the  manner  of  dogs  to 
pluck'grass);  then,  with  a  sudden  spring,  made  a  feint  at 
^  the  persecuted  buffalo's  head.    The  buffalo,  in  his  turn,  low- 
ered his  head,  and  advanced  a  few  steps  to  meet  him ;  but 
this  was  unnecessary.     Now  the  rest  of  the  fraternity  rush- 
ed up.     Another  took  the  post  of  teaser,  while  our  friend 
number  one  dropped  in  the  rear;  and  when  a  second  feint 
at  the  head  was  made  by  his  comrade,  number  one,  watching 
his  chance,  left  a  deep  scar  over  the  bull's  hocK.     Again 
and  again  this  game  was  played,  the  same  wolf  always  re- 
taining his  rear  position.     Is  not  the  instinct  of  animals 
most  similar  to  the  reason  of  man  ?     Here  each  wolf  had 
his  allotted  work,  doubtless  that  which  was  best  suited  for 
his  capacity.     The  rear  assault  was  the  most  dangerous; 
for  a  kick  well  directed  would  unquestionably  have  caused 
instant  death  to  the  adventurous  assailant;  but  the  most 
experienced  and  expert  had  selected  the  post  of  danger  and 
honor.     The  flashing  eyes  and  foaming  mouth  of  the  bull 
told  plainly  the  result;  so  I  stepped  from  my  concealment. 
However,  all  were  so  occupied  that  until  I  awakened  the 
echoes  with  a  loud  "  war-whoop  "  I  was  unseen  ;  but  man's 
voice  always  has  its  effect  in  cases  of  this  kind.     The  ver- 
min, with  startled  stare,  plainly  asking  what  the  deuce  right 
I  had  to  interfere,  sulkily  trotted  off  as  I  advanced ;  while 
the  persecuted,  in  return  for  my  kindness,  lowered  his  head, 
and  pushed  rapidly  for  me,  compelling  me  to  seek  safety  in 
flight.     Such  conduct  in  the  buffalo  was  scarcely  commend- 
able, and  very  unusual.     I  accounted  for  i  >  by  the  harass- 
ing his  temper  had  suffered,  as  well  as  his  feeling  how  in- 


' 


44 


rUAUUE  AND  FOREST. 


f 


adequate  liis  strength  was  for  escape  by  flight.  Poor  old 
creature,  his  dsiys  were  minibercd ;  for  as  soon  as  my  back 
was  turned,  and  a  safe  distance  intervened  between  us,  the 
wolves  returned,  and  as  I  rode  homeward,  occasionally  turn- 
ing and  halting  to  watch  thegradually  more  indistinct  bel- 
ligerents, the  victim  was  stil'  ''jloyed  in  battling  for  life. 
After  all,  was  he  not  paying  .  debt  of  nature,  and  dying 
as  his  ancestors  for  generations  had  died  before  him  ?  Man 
yields  his  spirit  to  the  source  from  whence  it  emanates,  on 
a  luxurious  couch  or  humble  straw  bed,  after  frequently 
suffering  from  protracted  and  painful  illness.  The  veteran 
buffalo,  effete  from  age,  after  a  long  and  happy  life,  when 
unable  to  keep  with  his  companions,  dies  in  a  gallant  and 
short  struggle,  overpowered  by  his  too  numerous  enemies, 
a  death  worthy  of  a  hero. 

The  cow  calves  in  spring,  although  I  have,  on  several  oc- 
casions, met  with  a  mother  a?^  'Ue  as  the  end  of  July  with 
a  youngster  by  her  side,  n(  or  a  couple  of  weeks  old. 
The  attachment  shown  by  the  parent  for  her  offspring,  and 
the  solicitude  she  evinces  for  its  safety,  impart  a  touching 
lesson,  which  even  the  human  family  would  do  well  to  fol- 
low. I  remember  on  one  occasion  I  had  been  setting  traps 
in  a  small  stream  with  abundant  signs  that  beaver  were 
numerous  in  the  vicinity.  I  had  waded  up  this  water- 
course for  upward  of  a  mile,  all  the  time  being  hidden  from 
the  view  of  the  animals  on  the  prairie  by  the  bluifness  of 
the  banks.  Having  performed  my  task,  I  left  the  stream 
and  ascended  to  the  level  of  the  country.  The  first  glance 
I  took  disclosed  a  beautiful  and  interesting  picture,  for  a 
young  cow,  with  her  calf  almost  between  her  legs,  stood 
determinedly  facing  several  wolves.  The  baby  was  evi- 
dently sick,  and  the  instinct  of  the  party  of  prowlers  told 
them  so.  My  sympathies,  of  course,  were  not  with  the  ag- 
gressors ;  and,  the  better  to  prove  it,  I  picked  out  the  ap- 


■^ 


INHABITANT  OF  THE  PLAINS. 


46 


parent  ringleaders,  doubling  one  np  with  the  first  barrel,  and 
accelerating  the  retreat  of  another  with  a  second ;  for,  al- 
though he  did  not  drop,  an  ominous  "thud"  gave  me  the 
information  that  ho  had  received  a  hint  that  the  neigh- 
borhood was  dangerous,  and  that  he  had  better  leave  it 
while  ho  had  the  power.  In  September  the  rutting  season 
commences,  and  furious  encounters  between  the  bulls  take 
place;  their  actions  on  these  occasions  remind  the  specta- 
tors very  much  of  domestic  cattle.  The  combatants  at  first 
stand  apart,  eying  each  other  with  flashing  orbs,  while  they 
paw  up  the  soil  with  their  feet,  throwing  it  frequently  over 
their  withers ;  their  short  tails  lash  their  sides,  their  horns 
are  dug  into  the  soil,  and  the  vegetation  scattered  to  the 
winds ;  occasionally  bellowing  in  a  low  guttural  voice,  ap- 
parently using  every  effort  to  work  themselves  into  a  fury. 
At  length  they  rush  at  each  other;  the  shock  sometimes 
brings  one  or  both  to  their  knees;  this  is  repeated  again 
and  again ;  for  over  thirty  minutes  frequently,  when  well 
matched,  the  struggle  will  be  protracted.  At  length  the 
weaker  commences  to  give  way,  first  slowly,  always  keep- 
ing his  head  to  the  foe,  till  with  suddtfn  energy  he  wheels 
and  leaves  the  victor  triumphant.  All  this  time  the  cow 
has  stood  by,  an  inert  spectator,  waiting  for  the  hero  of  the 
hour  to  claim  her  love.  These  battles  seldom  or  never  ter- 
minate fatally.  They  occur  at  the  period  when  the  coat  is 
in  the  greatest  perfection,  and  the  almost  impenetrable  mane, 
which  densely  covers  the  brows  and  fore  -  quarters,  is  un- 
questionably of  the  greatest  service  as  a  protection.  It  is 
my  belief  that,  when  the  sexes  thus  mate,  the  male  remains 
faithful  to  his  spouse,  for  up  to  within  a  month  of  the 
cow's  confinement  both  keep  together.  Early  in  autumn 
the  bulls  are  in  good  condition ;  but  after  the  rutting  sea- 
son they  gradually  lose  flesh,  and  by  midwinter  become  so 
poor  that  they  are  scarcely  tit  for  food.    The  cow,  on  the 


46 


rUAIIUE  AND  FOREST. 


I! 


other  hand,  keeps  fat,  and  even  in  spring  fat  may  be  found 
along  the  vertebra?  and  lower  portion  o"  the  carcass  an  inch 
thick.  With  the  advent  of  the  first  mild  weather,  even  be- 
fore the  snow  has  disappeared,  they  commence  to  shed  their 
rough  coat,  first  from  between  the  fore-legs,  then  the  prom- 
inent parts  of  the  body,  and  later  from  the  fore-limbs  and 
hump.  This  long  hair — or,  as  it  is  frequently  called,  wool 
— comes  off  in  patches,  trees  and  rocks  being  used  to  rub 


BUFFALO   IN   SPRING   COAT. 


against;  the  result  is,  that  by  March  a  more  ragged,  tatter- 
od,  weather-beaten  creature  can  scarcely  be  imagined.  The 
horns  of  both  bull  and  cow  are  about  the  same  length; 
those  of  the  former  are  thick,  blunt,  and  clumsy,  those  of 
the  latter  sharp,  slim,  and  trim-looking.  Both  sexes  much 
resemble  each  other ;  at  the  same  time  the  figure  of  the  fe- 
male is  more  delicately  formed,  and  not  within  a  couple  of 
hands  as  high  at  the  shoulder,  nor  is  she  clothed  with  such  a 
quantity  of  the  rough,  coarse  covering  over  the  fore-quarters. 


I 


BUFFALO  SINKING  IN  QUICKSANDS. 


47 


When  a  herd  of  buffalo  arc  alarmed  by  the  approach  of 
the  hunter,  the  cows,  in  a  few  seconds,  head  the  retreating 
herd,  closely  followed  by  the  yearlings  and  calves,  while 
the  lumbering  old  bulls,  f.om  incapacity,  drop  in  the  rear. 
When  not  disturbed,  in  lying  down  or  rising,  they  exactly 
resemble  others  of  the  J^os  family ;  but  if  they  be  come 
upon  unawares  by  an  object  of  fear,  the  velocity  with 
which  they  gain  their  legs  and  break  into  a  gallop  is  truly 
surprising.  They  are  excellent  swimmers,  and  have  no  hes- 
itation to  enter  water;  nevertheless,  annually,  great  num- 
bers are  drowned ;  but  this  generally  occurs  in  spring,  when 
the  broken  ice  is  clearing  out  of  the  streams. 

Throughout  the  AYestern  country  there  are  numerous 
quicksands,  and  frequently  unfortunates  get  imbedded  in 
them.  It  appears  in  such  cases  that,  without  exerting 
themselves,  they  submit  to  their  fate.  I  hr.ve  formed  this 
conclusion  from  having,  unseen,  perceived  a  bull  get  into 
such  a  scrape.  I  watched  him.  Inch  by  inch  he  kept  sink- 
ing ;  still  I  felt  convinced  that  a  protracted,  energetic  strug- 
gle would  take  him  across  to  terra  firma;  yet  no  such 
effort  did  he  make.  Thoroughly  believing  that  his  earthly 
course  was  run,  I  advanced  to  have  a  closer  survey  of  the 
finale.  The  unfortunate  did  not  see  me  till  within  a  few 
yards ;  but  when  he  did,  his  habitual  fear  of  man  predomi- 
nated over  all  other  feelings ;  again  and  again  he  plunged 
forward.  Dread  of  my  proximity  had  given  him  strength 
and  endurance ;  for,  after  a  few  minutes,  his  feet  got  on 
soundings,  from  which  the  margin  was  gained,  and  the 
brute  was  once  more  free.  I  think  this  apathy  to  death  in  ' 
certain  forms  is  common  to  the  majority  of  animals. 

The  dangers  attending  the  chase  of  this  noble  game  are 
very  much  overrated.  True,  a  horse  may  put  his  foot  in 
the  burrow  of  a  wolf,  swift  fox,  or  prairie-dog,  and  send  his 
rider  sky-rocketing.     The  result  may  be  a  broken  neck,  or, 


48 


PRAlltlE  AND  FOUEST. 


I 


if  such  a  fall  took  place  when  in  the  centre  of  a  large  herd, 
trampling  to  death  might  be  possible  ;  but  I  am  convinced, 
from  long  personal  experience,  that,  so  long  as  the  game 
can  keep  going,  they  will  seldom  or  never  turn  on  pursuing 
man.  At  the  same  time,  if  you  fire  at  a  buffalo  as  you  ride 
past  him,  without  much  changing  the  direction  they  are 
pursuing,  he  or  she  may  ilightly  deviate  toward  the  pursuer. 
However,  your  bridle-hand  should  invariably  sheer  your 
steed  from  the  quarry,  not  only  to  avoid  this  deviation,  but 
to  clear  the  animal  if  it  drop  to  shot.  The  majority  of 
horses  accustomed  to  this  work  do  so  of  their  own  accord. 
At  the  same  time,  I  should  particularly  caution  the  tyro 
that  on  himself  and  his  own  nerve  he  should  invariably  rely, 
not  on  that  of  his  dumb  companion.  To  be  a  good  horse- 
man, of  course,  is  particularly  desirable ;  and  the  person 
who  can  ride  bareback  will  often  come  in  for  a  run  when 
a  saddle  may  not  be  at  hand.  Many  of  us,  of  course,  can 
ride  in  this  primitive  manner;  but  there  are  very  few 
Americans  or  Europeans  who  can  compare  in  this  respect 
with  the  Indians  —  they  appear  so  perfectly  at  home  on 
their  horses:  anywhere  and  everywhere  they  place  them- 
selves, and  but  seldom  get  a  fall. 

However,  the  paceb  of  horses  are  very  different ;  some  I 
used  for  running  buffalo  I  preferred  riding  with  blanket 
and  a  surcingle;  on  others  I  did  not  feel  sufficiently  at 
home  without  the  saddle.  For  some  months  I  had  an  un- 
der-sized chestnut,  very  little  over  fourteen  hands.  My 
associates  called  her  a  mustang.  In  some  points  she  much 
resembled  one ;  but  there  was  a  well-bi*ed  look  about  her 
small  head,  narrow  muzzle,  broad  forehead,  and  lean  neck, 
that  told  of  aristocratic  lineage.  Moreover,  she  was  very 
fast  and  high-couraged,  as  well  as  easy  in  her  paces.  Her 
back,  while  in  my  possession,  was  seldom  crossed  by  a  sad- 
dle, although  she  was  the  favorite  mount,  and  as  such  was 


• 


THE  BUFFALO  AT  BAY. 


49 


more  frequently  used.  I  purchased  her  for  a  trifle  from  a 
fellow  with  "villain"  plainly  written  on  his  countenance, 
and,  as  might  have  been  expected,  she  was  recognized  and 
claimed.  To  part  with  her  was  a  great  trial ;  but  I  had  the 
satisfaction  of  learning  that  my  surmises  of  her  parentage 
were  correct,  her  sire  being  thorough-bred,  and  her  dam  a 


mustang. 


When  buffalo  are  so  severely  wounded  as  to  feel  in- 
capacitated from  further  flight,  they  will  then  occasionally 
turn  to  bay.  When  this  takes  place,  unless  the  animal  be 
an  old  bull,  you  may  safely  conclude  the  wound  mortal, 
and  that  but  an  hour  or  two  will  elapse  before  death  comes 
to  their  relief;  but  if  you  be  desirous  to  terminate  the 
final  sufferings,  when  dismounted,  be  very  cautious  how 
you  approach  to  deliver  the  coup;  foi',  with  velocity  al- 
most marvelous,  they  will  dash  at  their  tormentor,  gather- 
ing all  their  energy  for  the  occasion.  A  bull  I  had  disabled 
stood  at  bay,  and,  judging  from  appearances,  was  within  a 
few  moments  of  expiring ;  blood  flowed  profusely  from  his 
nose,  and  already  he  had  commenced  to  straddle  his  legs 
to  support  his  towering  carcass.  Carelessly  I  approached. 
The  manner  of  the  rider  was  infectious  on  the  steed. 
When  twenty  yards  distant  from  me,  down  went  his  head, 
and  at  me  he  sprang.  The  activity  of  the  horse  alone 
saved  me ;  and  the  shave  was  so  close  as  to  be  far  from 
pleasant.  It  was  a  cleverly  executed  charge,  and  a  fitting 
finale  to  life.  The  impetus  of  his  motion  he  was  unable  to 
control.  The  strength  of  the  body  was  unequal  to  his 
courage  of  heart ;  for,  ere  he  could  halt,  over  he  rolled  to 
rise  no  more.  In  hunting,  as  in  civilized  life,  it  is  danger- 
ous to  trust  in  appearances — we  know  how  often  they  are 
deceptive.  But  there  are  other  dangers  to  be  apprehended 
on  the  buffalo  range — viz.,  the  Indians,  who  are  so  cunning 
and  treacherous  that  the  hunter  must  ever  be  on  his  guard. 

3 


50 


rUAlBIE  AND  FOREST. 


i 


)    i 


The  following  reminiscence  will  illustrate  how  even  over-' 
caution  might  prove  dangerous  to  friends. 

For  some  days  I  had  had  a  terribly  hard  time  of  it.  The 
ground  had  drunk  its  full — and  to  spare — of  snow-water, 
game  was  scarce  and  wild,  and  the  scanty  herbage  that  my 
horse  and  mule  were  able  to  obtain  since  we  entered  the 
plains  was  barely  suificient  to  keep  them  alive;  still  good 
seventy  miles  more  had  to  be  traversed  before  I  could 
reach  the  friendly  shelter  of  the  belt  of  timber  that  sur- 
rounded the  Forks.  If  it  had  been  autumn,  I  dare  not  have 
chosen  this  route,  for  it  is  a  debatable  ground  of  the  Co- 
manche and  Arrapaho,  to  whom  a  solitary  white  man  would 
be  so  tempting  a  morsel  that  he  could  not  fail  to  be  caught, 
and  we  will  not  say  what  done  to;  the  very  conjecture  is 
disagreeable.  The  severity  of  the  late  weather,  therefore, 
was  my  safety ;  for  redskins,  no  less  than  white  men,  dis- 
like unnecessary  exposure.  Still,  I  was  convinced  some 
stragglers  must  have  lately  visited  the  neighborhood,  for 
the  occasional  head  of  game  I  saw  was  so  wary  that  I  con- 
cluded hunters  had  lately  disturbed  them.  One  thing  was 
very  much  in  my  favor — I  was  in  the  lightest  of  marching 
order :  no  pack  of  peltries  or  well-stocked  kit  had  I ;  for  a 
few  pounds  of  bullets,  a  pound  of  powder,  and  my  buffalo 
robe  were  all  my  beasts  had  for  a  load.  How  independent 
a  fellow  feels  when  all  his  worldly  goods  can  be  summed 
up  in  so  few  words,  unless  he  be  in  Bond  Street  or  Broad- 
way !  To  keep  as  much  in  the  nags  as  possible,  in  case 
speed  might  be  required,  ever  on  the  lookout  for  any  thing 
suspicious,  with  cautious,  slow  steps,  I  pursued  my  route  to 
the  eastward.  Nothing  occurred  to  increase  my  watchful- 
ness ;  in  truth,  I  commenced  to  believe  that  I  had  unneces- 
sarily alarmed  myself,  when,  crossing  a  small  water-course, 
on  the  edge  of  which  was  a  sandy  margin,  plainly  I  saw 
prints  indicating  that  three  horses  had  lately  passed.    The 


AFRAID  OF  INDIANS. 


51 


fore  -  feet  of  one  of  them  was  shod  —  a  good  sign.  Still, 
they  might  have  lately  been  stolen  from  distant  white  set- 
tlements ;  so  all  my  previous  alarm  and  caution  were  again 
reverted  to. 

Half  an  hour  afterward,  I  heard  the  report  of  a  rifle ; 
but,  as  there  was  a  roll  in  the  prairie  between  me  and  the 
direction  the  sound  came  from,  I  could  not  see  who  had 
fired  the  shot.  In  ignorance  of  what  was  to  be  seen  be- 
yond, it  would  have  been  madness  to  have  ridden  to  the 
top  of  the  bluff ;  so,  turning  off  to  the  right  into  irregular, 
bi'oken  ground,  the  effect  of  the  previous  year's  heat,  I 
hobbled  my  animals,  and  started  cautiously  to  stalk  my 
way  to  some  elevated  ground,  from  whence  I  might  obtain 
a  view  of  the  surrounding  country,  taking,  at  the  same  time, 
care  to  keep  myself  between  the  suspicious  direction  and 
my  beasts.  I  had  not  traversed  over  one  hundred  and  fifty 
yards,  and  was  halting,  the  better  to  notice  the  most  avail- 
able cover  for  future  progress,  when  first  the  head  and 
shoulders,  then  the  entire  figure  of  a  man,  loomed  over  the 
top  of  the  swell.  Comanche  or  Arrapaho  I  knew  at  once 
he  was  not  —  perhaps  Osage  or  Pottawatomie;  but  what 
the  deuce  would  bring  them  so  many  hundred  miles  from 
their  own  hunting-lands  ?  However,  as  every  thing  in  the 
shape  of  redskins  is  to  be  dealt  cautiously  with,  I  changed 
my  caps  and  got  into  most  convenient  and  unconspicuous 
shooting  attitude,  determined  not  to  throw  away  a  shot,  or, 
much  less,  give  my  supposed  foe  a  chance  of  returning  the 
compliment.  That  he  was  alone,  being  dismounted,  I  knew 
could  not  be  the  case ;  and  as  he  was  coming  in  the  very 
direction  of  my  fresh  trail,  which,  if  he  was  permitted  to 
cross,  he  could  not  fail  to  discover,  and,  with  the  discovery, 
bring  his  whole  party  in  pursuit  of  me,  there  was  but  one 
alternative  to  adopt.  Last  year,  in  this  very  locality,  the 
Indians  had  been  unusually  active;  scare Jy  a  gang  of  emi- 


. 


52 


PRAIRIE  ANV  FOREST. 


W 


grants  or  traders  who  had  taken  the  southeni  route  but 
had  lost  members  of  their  party;  in  several  instances  nei- 
ther sex  nor  age  had  been  spared  by  these  blood-thirsty 
marauders ;  so  what  could  I  expect  if  alone  I  fell  into  the 
hands  of  a  party  of  braves  on  the  war-path  ?  True,  my 
scalp — for  it  has  long  been  ignorant  of  a  scalpy  lock — 
would  scarcely  be  worth  lifting ;  but  then  I  did  not  want 
to  knock  under  yet;  and,  if  so,  I  preferred  making  a  fight 
for  it,  as,  I  think,  under  the  excitement,  the  process  of  be- 
ing wiped  out  is  less  painful. 

By  this  time  my  stalwart  apparition  had  approached 
within  eighty  yards :  he  was  a  noble-looking  figure,  with- 
out the  slouch  of  the  red  man  when  hunting,  with  a  step  as 
free  and  independent  as  if  he  had  been  shooting  over  a  pri- 
vate manor.  A  big  bug  he  evidently  was,  conscious  of  his 
own  divinity;  still,  no  eagle's  feather  or  characteristic  mark 
of  a  chief  distinguished  him.  Presently  he  halted,  and 
threw  his  large  gun  across  his  arm ;  from  this  movement 
I  perceived  at  once  that  he  was  a  white  man.  Great  was 
his  surprise  when  he  saw  me  leave  my  ambush;  quick  as 
thought  his  rifle  was  cocked  and  brought  to  the  port,  but 
I  prevented  him  from  further  hostile  demonstrations  by  a 
salute  in  mother-tongue.  Our  meeting  was  strange ;  both 
took  a  pretty  good  stare,  and  then  mutually  mentioned  each 
other's  name,  for  we  had  met  before,  and  where?  In  no 
less  distant  a  portion  of  the  earth  than  in  the  realms  of  the 
Tycoon.  A  restless  spirit,  a  crack  shot,  and  passionately 
fond  of  field  sports,  the  world  was  his  demesne ;  and  where 
game  was  abundant,  there  he  would  be  found,  whatever 
were  the  dangers  that  surrounded  it,  laughing  at  hardship 
and  privation — the  bitters  that  make  the  sweets  of  life  the 
more  enjoyable  by  contrast.  Securing  my  animals,  I  ac- 
companied him  to  the  party  to  which  he  had  attached  him- 
self.    They  had  only  lately  left  civilization,  and,  th/ough 


THE  HUNTING-SADDLE. 


53 


liis  interest,  my  equine  companions  got  several  feeds  of 
corn,  to  which  they  had  long  been  unaccustomed.  The 
niglit  passed  discussing  old  friends,  a  flask  of  brandy,  and  a 
package  of  kinnikinic  tobacco ;  and  when,  on  the  morrow, 
I  shook  his  sterling  Jiand  at  parting,  before  recoramen  jing 
my  journey,  he  presented  me  with  a  few  more  feeds  of 
grain,  which,  without  doubt,  materially  assisted  my  four- 
footed  friends  in  rapidly  traversing  the  balance  of  the  de- 
batable ground. 

The  visitor  to  the  plains  desirous  of  hunting  buffalo,  and 
doing  so  comfortably  and  under  the  most  advantageous  cir- 
cumstances, should  always  take  his  saddlery  with  him.  A 
hunting-saddle  from  Peat,  or  Wilkinson  and  Kidd,  made 
of  the  best  jjig-skin,  would  be  my  choice,  remembering  al- 
ways to  be  provided  with  spare  girths.  The  high-peaked 
saddle  generally  used  in  the  West  has  advantages  for  front- 
ier use ;  but  for  a  firm  seat,  hard  and  rough  riding,  give  me 
our  English  production.  A  double-reined  snaflle  I  would 
take  in  preference  to  all  bridles.  At  the  same  time,  much 
depends  on  how  a  horse's  mouth  has  been  made.  If  the 
nag  in  his  youth  had  his  jaws  dislocated  with  a  barbarous 
Mexican  bit,  a  snaffle  will  have  no  more  power  of  control 
over  his  actions  than  officers  over  a  panic-stricken  regiment. 
I  once  possessed  such  a  beast.  The  rider  with  a  snaffle 
might  as  well  have  pulled  at  a  stalwart  oak  as  at  this  crea- 
ture's mouth.  He  was  a  light-necked,  star-gazing,  hot-tem- 
pered beast.  The  scrapes  he  got  me  in  were  so  numerous, 
that  to  this  day  I  wonder  he  did  not  break  my  neck.  Of 
the  arms  most  suitable  for  buffalo-shootins:  from  horseback. 
I  believe  the  largo-bore  breech-loading  revolver  the  best. 
They  are  easily  loaded  while  on  the  gallop ;  for  the  muzzle 
can  be  placed  between  your  thigh  and  the  flap  of  the  sad- 
dle, and  thus  held.  For  my  part,  I  used  a  double-barreled 
shot-gun,  M  ith  the  barrels  reduced  to  twenty-two  inches  in 


54 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST 


.length.  The  stock,  however,  was  always  inconvenient,  par- 
ticularly when  loading  while  the  horse  was  going  at  speed. 
Small-bored  arms  are  to  be  avoided.  The  trappers  and 
professional  hunters  use  them ;  but  the  reason  is,  that  they 
require  much  less  ammunition  than  those  of  larger  calibre; 
and  at  the  same  time,  in  killing  fur-bearing  animals,  the  pelt 
does  not  become  so  much  torn.  A  small  bullet,  wlien  prop- 
erly placed,  will  do  its  work  instantaneously ;  but  deviation 
of  a  few  inches  is  so  frequent  in  this,  which  may  be  called 
snap-shooting,  that  the  more  severe  shock  and  larger  wound 
of  the  big  projectile  are  eminently  more  effective. 


J 


• 


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4 


■Ti 


CHAPTER  III. 

THE   MU8K-8HEEP. 

On  the  vast  steppes  of  barren  land  that  stretch  from  the 
sixtieth  degree  of  north  latitude  to  the  Arctic  Circle,  this 
little-known  animal  is  to  be  found;  however,  I  have  never 
been  able  with  certainty  to  learn  that  it  has  ever  been  seen 
to  the  eastward  of  Hudson  Bay.  Its  favorite  haunts  are 
about  Great  Bear  and  Great  Slave  Lake,  and  along  the  up- 
per tributaries  of  the  Mackenzie  River. 

From  musk-sheep  being  extremely  shy,  and  the  rough- 
ness of  the  nature  of  the  country  they  inhabit,  there  is  but 
one  method  for  the  sportsman  to  adopt  in  their  pursuit, 
viz., stalking;  and  although  a  small-bore  rifle  might  on  such 
an  occasion  be  employed,  I  should  advise  a  calibre  which 
shoots  a  bullet  of  not  under  twelve  to  the  pound. 

Any  gentleman  visiting  these  regions  should  endeavor  to 
propitiate  the  Hudson  Bay  Fur  Company,  and,  if  possible, 
obtain  letters  of  introduction  to  the  factors  of  the  various 
forts  that  extend  along  his  route ;  for  it  will  insure  him  a 
hearty  v/elcome,  shelter  in  time  of  necessity,  a  supply  of 
provisions  if  stores  should  run  low,  and  information  where 
the  game  will  be  found,  with  very  possibly  the  assistance 
of  a  guide  and  hunter  who  is  thoroughly  conversant  with 
all  the  surrounding  country. 

English  and  American  sportsmen  of  the  present  day  are 
possessed  of  such  courage  and  perseverance  that  the  rigor 
of  the  Arctic  regions  does  not  intimidate  them ;  or  I  would 
not  introduce  my  readers  to  this  animal. 

Why  the  musk-sheep  should  be  designated  Ox  by  some 

8* 


58 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


persons  is  to  me  a  mystery.  Plainly  do  its  appearance, 
habits,  et-"..,  designate  it  as  a  member  of  the  Ovis  family, 
instead  of  the  Bos.  However,  Blainville,  a  naturalist  of 
good  reputation,  to  avoid  censure,  boldly  seizes  both,  and 
designates  it  Ovibos,  thereby  claiming  a  distinct  standing 
and  title  to  the  honor  of  representing  a  new  genus  by  adopt- 
ing the  sobriquet  of  two  old  ones.  Audubon  does  likewise, 
and  htads  his  chapters  on  these  animals  with  the  title  of 
"Genus  Ovibos.^''  As  an  authority  on  American  natural 
history,  the  latter  is  entitled  to  the  highest  consideration. 
At  the  same  time,  I  can  not  help  feeling  that  the  name 
adopted  is  a  shuffling  pretext  to  prevent  controversy,  and 
the  possibility  of  making  a  mistake  that  in  future  years 
would  require  to  be  corrected. 

Among  the  numerous  lakes  of  North  America  that  are 
situated  on  the  extreme  edge  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  and 
the  barren  lands  in  sixty-four  or  sixty-five  degrees  north 
latitude,  the  musk-sheep  (for  I  must  call  it  so)  is  occasion- 
ally found,  but  when  the  traveler  progresses  farther  to  the 
north-west  it  is  no  uncommon  occurrence  in  a  day's  march 
to  see  several  herds;  in  fact,  they  were  so  numerous  that 
the  camp  of  a  friend  of  mine  was  always  well  supplied  with 
them  for  food.  Their  flesh  is  excellent  and  nutritious  when 
fat,  but  quite  the  reverse  when,  by  a  long-protracted  win- 
ter, they  become  thin  and  attenuated.  T!ie  flavor  is  much 
the  same  as  that  of  venison,  although  much  coarser  in  the 
grain,  and  is  entirely  free  from  any  musky  odor,  except  in 
very  old  males  during  the  rutting  season.  The  ground 
which  they  principally  frequent  is  the  same  on  >vhich  is 
found  the  small  caribou — two  species  of  thi»  genus  being 
accredited  to  the  Korth  American  continent  —  immense 
stretches  of  rolling,  rocky  steppes,  most  spai^ely  supplied 
with  vegetation,  except  where  an  occasional  brook  winds 
its  solitary  course  toward  some  giant  river,  rapidly  hurry 


MUSK-SHEEP. 


60 


inff  on  its  northern  course  to  the  Arctic  Ocean.  Their 
principal  food  is  the  various  mosses,  the  leaves  of  stunted 
brush,  and  the  fine  velvety  grasses  that  sparsely  crop  up  in 
wet  localities. 

For  animals  so  unwieldy  in  shape  and  appearance  musk- 
sheep  are  wonderfully  nimble,  making  always  for  the  rough- 
est grounds  Avhen  pursued,  leaping  with  agility  from  rock 
to  rock,  and  scaling  the  faces  of  slopes  so  perpendicular, 
that  the  hunter,  with  hands  and  feet  brought  into  play,  finds 
it  almost  impossible  to  follow.  Their  hearing  and  sight  are 
very  acute ;  at  the  same  time,  so  suspicious  and  cautious 
are  they,  that,  although  always  assembled  in  little  parties  of 
from  ten  to  twenty,  sentinels  are  regularly  told  off  for  duty, 
which  place  themselves  in  the  most  commanding  positions, 
ready  to  whistle  the  signal  of  alarm  on  the  slightest  sus- 
picion of  danger,  accompanied  by  the  usual  sheep-like  stamp 
of  displeasure,  which  summons  the  herd  to  assist  in  inspect- 
ing the  supposed  intruder  before  they  shift  their  feeding- 
grounds  for  haunts  that  previous  experience  has  taught 
them  are  more  secure. 

From  the  high  latitudes  in  which  they  have  their  habitat, 
Captain  Parry,  the  celebrated  voyager,  classes  them  among 
the  dwellers  north  of  the  Arctic  Circle ;  and  v/ell  might  he 
or  others  do  so,  for  so  well  are  they  protected  by  nature 
from  the  inclement  weather  of  the  inhospitable  regions 
which  they  inliabit,  that  the  most  severe  snow  and  frost 
little  interf'jre  with  the  routine  of  their  life.  Their  wool  is 
remarkably  soft,  long,  and  densely  close ;  so  that  at  a  small 
distance,  if  they  are  walking  over  irregular -surfaced  soil, 
their  feet  are  scarcely  seen,  the  body  of  surrounding  f ringj 
giving  the  observer  the  impression  which  would  arise  if  you  * 
saw  an  animal  surrounded  with  a  petticoat.  Their  color  is 
much  the  same  as  that  of  the  buffaloes  of  the  plains,  possi- 
bly a  little  darker,  and  at  a  distance  they  might  easily  bo 


CO 


PRATRIE  AND  FOREST. 


mistaken  for  them ;  but,  on  closer  inspection,  the  dehision 
can  not  continue,  for  their  outline  of  form,  sheep-like  move- 
ment and  figure,  at  once  correct  the  error.  In  height  they 
stand  from  eleven  and  a  half  to  twelve  and  a  half  hands,  the 
males  being  the  largest  and  most  cumbersome  in  appear- 
ance. Their  legs  are  excessively  short,  and  gifted  with 
great  muscular  power,  while  the  track  of  their  hoof  is  about 
the  size  of  a  two-year-old  steer's,  but  straighter  and  less 
pointed.  The  head  is  ornamented  with  handsome  horns 
which  almost  unite  at  the  base,  and  taper  off  with  graceful, 
han*dsome  sweeps  to  sharp  points,  which  are  generally  with 
the  mature  animal  on  a  level  with  the  eyes.  The  nose  is 
covered  with  soft,  downy  hair,  and  the  eye,  which  is  large 
and  full,  gives  the  physiognomy  an  intelligent  look,  which 
would  induce  the  belief  that  no  great  difficulty  would  occur 
to  prevent  their  domestication.  If  such  could  be  effected, 
great  benefit  might  result  from  the  introduction  of  their 
M'ool  into  our  markets,  as,  from  its  length,  elasticity,  and 
fineness,  it  could  be  manufactured  into  the  most  svipericr 
class  of  cloths. 

Their  rutting  season  occurs  at  the  breaking  up  of  tlie 
autumn,  when  the  cold  and  fitful  winds  of  October  com- 
mence to  warn  us  that  warmth  is  gone,  and  snow  and  ice 
are  coming.  The  male,  who  generally  is  very  inoffensive, 
unless  he  chance  to  receive  a  wound  incapacitating  him 
from  escape,  becomes  now  most  quarrelsome  and  vindictive, 
attacking  with  the  greatest  fury  wliatever  provokes  his  dis- 
pleasure ;  and  woe  be  to  the  white  man  or  Indian  who  then 
meets  him,  if  away  from  a  place  of  escape  or  unprovided 
with  fire-arms.  At  this  time  furious  engagements  take 
place  among  the  males,  which  sometimes  continue  till  one 
or  both  of  the  contestants  are  so  much  exhausted  that  they 
fall  an  easy  prey  to  the  Indian's  arrows  or  the  tusks  of  the 
large  northern  gray  wolf. 


WILD  DUCK. 


01 


I 


In  May  the  female  produces  a  single  lamb,  ever  whose 
welfare  the  mother  shows  great  solicitude.  The  young, 
until  three  or  four  weeks  old,  are  unable  to  follow  the  par- 
ent, but  are  hid  away  in  the  manner  usual  with  deer ;  the 
old  ladv,  however,  on  such  occasions  never  wanders  far  from 
lier  offspring's  hiding-place,  and  on  the  least  suspicion  of 
danger  rushes  to  her  offspring,  prepared  to  do  battle  with 
all  intruders,  whatever  may  be  their  size  or  appearance. 
The  droppings  of  these  animals,  with  the  exception  of  their 
size,  exactly  resemble  those  of  sheep. 

I  will  relate  two  anecdotes  illustrative  of  the  chances  of 
accident  that  will  occasionally  occur  to  the  sportsman,  even 
when  in  pursuit  of  animals  which  are  generally  deemed 
harmless;  and  clearly  proving  how  necessary  presence  of 
mind  and  decision  of  character  are  to  the  person  who 
adopts  wild  life,  or  hopes  to  return  safely  from  a  trip  to 
the  comparatively  unknown  tracks  of  the  great  north-west- 
ern portion  of  the  American  continent. 

"The  ice  had  just  disappeared  from  the  rivers;  the  wild 
duck  had  already  arrived  in  immense  numbers,  so  that  our 
table  daily  had  been  graced  with  the  choicest  varieties, 
when  a  thought  struck  me  that  an  alteration  of  fish  for 
fowl  would  be  most  acceptable  to  the  palates  of  the  en- 
campment. About  a  couple  of  miles  distant,  where  the 
river,  contracted  to  one -fourth  its  usual  breadth,  rushed 
into  a  noble  pool,  I  had  on  the  previous  year  been  most 
successful ;  moreover,  it  was  a  pleasant  place  to  fish  —  no 
overhanging  bushes,  but  gently  sloping,  gravelly  banks 
nearly  the  entire  length  of  its  margin.  In  an  hour  I  had  se- 
cured more  trout  than  I  felt  disposed  to  carry ;  so,  work  be- 
ing over,  I  treated  myself  to  a  pipe.  While  enjoying  my  to- 
bacco, a  wading  bird,  of  a  description  I  never  before  saw,  lit 
close  to  me.  It  was  so  tame  that  I  threw  several  stones  at 
it,  almost  with  success,  for  the  distance  was  not  over  ten  or 


i 


«2 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


fifteen  yards,  before  it  took  to  wing,  and  went  farther  down 
the  stream.  Anxious  to  procure  a  new  specimen,  I  follow- 
ed till  almost  a  mile  lay  between  me  and  my  fish.  To  save 
distance  in  returning,  I  determined  to  cut  across  the  angle 
formed  by  the  bend  of  the  river,  and  had  progressed  about 
half-w.ay  when  I  saw  a  female  musk -sheep  coming  after 
me.  When  a  lad  in  the  Highlands,  I  had  got  dreadfully 
punished  by  a  tup,  and  the  remembrances  of  the  event  had 
not  yet  been  forgotten.  A  mountain  ram  is  a  small  beast 
compared  to  my  present  pursuer,  and  he  was  able  to  do 
enough  mischief.  The  ground  was  very  roughly  sprinkled 
with  boulders,  some  of  great  size,  and  for  the  most  inac- 
cessible of  those  I  made  the  best  speed  I  could  muster,  and 
only  succeeded  in  gaining  a  place  of  safety  when  the  ewe's 
horns  were  within  a  foot  or  two  of  my  hurdles.  For  over 
an  hour  she  kept  watch  on  me ;  and,  worse  than  all,  when  I 
got  back  to  my  fish,  some  vermin  or  other  had  carried  all 
the  best  ones  off,  and  it  was  getting  too  late  to  catch  a  new 
mess.  When  at  the  fort,  the  Indians  soon  explained  the 
reasons  of  this  unprovoked  attack,  and  proved  the  correct- 
ness of  their  assertion  by  shooting  the  mother  next  morn- 
ing and  bringing  the  lamb  home,  which  we  were  unable  to 
keep  alive  for  over  three  days,  much  to  the  regret  of  all." 

The  second  adventure  is  a  repetition  of  the  inexcusable 
folly  of  not  immediately  loading  your  gun  before  approach- 
ing wounded  game.  "In  stalking  some  barren  caribou, 
eight  musk -sheep  crossed  directly  between  me  and  the 
deer.  I  was  well  hid  at  the  time,  so  that  they  came  un- 
suspiciously within  thirty  yards.  In  a  moment  I  gave  them 
botli  barrels.  To  the  first  shot  an  old  buck  dropped,  and 
rolled  into  a  ravine;  the  second  barrel  crippled  a  three- 
quarter  grown  sheep  so  badly  that  I  knew  loss  than  a  mile 
would  lay  her  up.  In  my  hurry  to  secure  the  old  one,  with- 
out loading  I  hurried  to  the  ravine.     There  he  was,  as  I 


ii  j 

1    c 


1f'r\ 


STALKING  CARIBOU. 


63 


thought,  in  the  last  struggle.  Down  I  jumped  into  the 
hollow,  which  was  about  ten  feet  deep ;  but  no  sooner  did 
he  see  me  than  up  he  got,  and,  head  down,  charged.  I 
turned  tail,  and  foi'tunately  scrambled  out  a  wiser  man ; 
for,  deil  tak'  me,  if  ever  I  gang  near  ony  o'  them  without 
baith  powther  and  lead  in  my  gun." 

The  average  weight  of  the  full-grown  male  is  about  four 
hundred  and  fifty  pounds,  while  the  female  is  generally 
from  fifty  to  seventy-five  pounds  less.  The  Indians  state 
that  they  live  to  an  immense  age,  which  belief  is  probably 
caused  by  their  venerable  and  ragged  appearance  at  the 
time  they  cast  their  coats. 


It 


ivi  ^ 


CHAPTER  IV. 

MOOSE-DEER. 

This  giant  of  the  deer  tribe,  although  at  one  time  abun- 
dant in  all  the  North-eastern  States,  at  the  present  time 
holds  only  a  precarious  and  short-leased  existence  in  the 
northern  portion  of  the  State  of  Maine.  However,  when 
the  Canadian  frontier  is  crossed  they  become  more  abun- 
dant, increasing  in  number  till  about  the  fifty-seventh  de- 
gree of  latitude  is  reached,  above  which  they  are  seldom 
found.  In  Nova  Scotia  and  New  Brunswick  the  sports- 
man in  pursuit  of  moose  would  still  find  a  reward  for  his 
labor ;  but  in  that  section  of  country  lying  to  the  south  of 
James  Bay,  and  stretching  westward  to  Lake  Winnipeg, 
this  giant  deer  can  be  obtained  in  greater  abundance  than 
in  any  other  portion  of  the  American  continent. 

For  their  capture  two  methods  are  usually  adopted  : 
first,  by  calling  them  up  to  where  the  sportsman  is  con- 
cealed, by  imitating  the  voice  of  the  female,  or  call  of  the 
male,  through  the  assistance  of  a  horn  of  birch-bark ;  this 
device  can  only  be  employed  in  the  still  evenings  of  autumn, 
during  the  rutting  season.  So  acute  is  the  sense  of  hear- 
ing in  this  animal,  that  the  slightest  false  note  on  the  call 
will  send  the  quarry  flying  in  the  reverse  direction ;  thus 
Indian  companions  are  almost  necessary  to  the  white  hunt- 
er, they,  from  greater  experience,  having  become  adepts  in 
its  use.  The  second  is  to  pursue  them  on  snow-shoes  after 
a  heavy  crust  has  been  formed  on  the  snow,  through  the 
heat  of  the  spiing  sun  by  day  and  the  sharp  frosts  by  night. 
As  long  shots  at  this  quarry  are  seldom  fired,  the  sports- 


HEIGHT  OF  THE  MOOSE-DEER. 


65 


man  will  find  the  ordinary  smooth-bore  gun  quite  as  effi- 
cient as  the  rifle.  A  weapon  of  heavy  calibre  is  here  also 
of  great  importance. 

I  never  think  of  the  State  of  Maine  without  the  most  in- 
tense feelings  of  pleasure,  for  among  its  pine-clad  hills  and 
wood-imbosomed  lakes  I  enjoyed  many,  many  weeks  and 
months  so  free  from  care,  so  productive  of  pleasure,  that 
the  recollection  can  never  pass  away. 

This  regioo  of  country  is  characterized  by  numerous 
labyrinths  of  lakes  that  are  scattered  over  it  in  every  di- 
rection, divided  from  each  other  by  mountainous  ridges, 
clothed  to  their  summits  with  giant  pine-trees  and  the 
many  varieties  of  hard  woods  peculiar  to  these  latitudes, 
alike  giving  beauty  to  the  landscape  and  affording  food 
and  shelter  for  every  kind  of  northern  game.  On  the  ex- 
tensive flat  meadows  that  edge  these  lakes,  or  form  the 
margin  of  many  of  the  numerous  noble  rivers,  in  the  hol- 
lows, ravines,  and  hill-sides,  was  the  moose-deer's  home  to 
be  found,  his  choice  of  quarters  being  regulated  by  the 
changes  of  the  seasons.  Portions  of  New  Brunswick  and 
Nova  Scotia  are  now  favorite  resorts  of  this  giant  deer; 
but  in  Northern  New  Hampshire,  Vermont,  and  North- 
eastern New  York,  where  a  quarter  of  a  century  since 
moose  were  plentiful,  I  doubt  if  at  the  present  date  a  sin- 
gle specimen  can  be  found.  Such  is  the  result  of  civiliza- 
tion and  the  influx  of  the  white  man. 

The  size  to  which  the  moose-deer  grows  has  been  vari- 
ously stated.  Audubon  says  over  twenty  hands ;  Mr.  Hays, 
an  animal  artist  of  great  talent,  and  who  has  spent  many 
years  studying  his  profession  in  the  native  haunts  of  all  the 
subjects  he  has  used  his  brush  upon,  informs  me  that  he 
has  known  animals  to  grow  much  larger.  From  this  gen- 
tleman's experience  as  a  hunter  and  naturalist,  I  have  not 
the  slightest  doubt  that  he  is  correct.     However,  I  believe 


G6 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


II 


about  sixteen  and  a  half  hands  to  bo  the  average  height  of 
a  full-grown  male;  but  that  certain  localities  —  possibly 
where  greater  abundance  of  the  most  suitable  food  is  to  be 
found— produce  much  larger  animals.  All  the  moose  that 
I  have  heard  of  being  killed  in  Labrador — where  the  win- 
ters are  particularly  severe  and  vegetation  sparse — have 
been  smaller  than  those  shot  in  the  State  of  Maine;  nor 
can  I  see  any  reason  to  doubt  such  being  the  case.  We 
know  how  other  genera  are  affected  by  such  local  pecul- 
iarities, and  why  should  this  animal  be  an  exception  ? 

It  is  the  habit  of  sportsmen  and  naturalists  to  praise  the 
appearance  of  the  moose.  My  own  impression  is  that  there 
is  no  animal  more  ungainly,  awkward-looking,  and  appar- 
ently disproportioned.  That  he  is  admirably  constructed 
for  the  part  he  has  to  play  in  life,  there  is  no  question ;  but 
the  very  requisites  with  which  he  is  endowed  give  him 
such  an  unusual  appearance,  that  prejudice  alone  can  call 
him  handsome. 

The  Virginian  deer,  the  fallow  deer,  the  Wapitti,  and 
the  red  deer  are  to  me  perfect  in  shape,  graceful  in  their 
movements,  and  ornamental  to  the  landscape;  but  the 
moose,  on  the  other  hand,  with  his  short,  thick  neck,  asi- 
nine head,  protruding  eyes,  heavy  broad  ears,  tremendous 
antlers,  long,  awkward,  powerful  legs,  and  disproportionate 
withers,  looking  even  higher  than  they  are  from  the  mane 
that  surmounts  them,  can  never  be  considered  by  an  im- 
partial judge  but  an  awkward  and  clumsy-looking  brute. 

Of  all  the  ruminants  on  the  American  continent,  the 
moose  is  the  tallest.  I  doubt  not  that  a  strll-fed  ox  can 
be  made  to  '.veigh  as  heavy,  but  not  to  attain  the  stature ; 
and  on  this  account,  as  well  as  many  others,  it  is  really  a 
duty  that  the  Legislatures  of  the  various  States  of  which 
he  is  an  inhabitant  owe  to  the  country  at  large  to  pass  and 
enforce  such  laws  as  will  prevent  his  ultimate  annihilation. 


THE  HORNS  OF  THE  MOOSE. 


9ii 


Probably  it  may  never  again  be  ray  good  fortune  to  re- 
visit these  scenes  of  my  youth;  but  can  I  ever  forget  the 
happy  days  and  nights  I  have  spent  in  the  dense  swamp, 
sparsely  covered,  barren,  tangled  woodland,  or  over  the 
brilliant  camp-fire,  when,  miles  and  miles  away  from  civil- 
ization, I  have  been  on  an  expedition  to  hunt  moose  ?  No  ! 
Though  I  have  shot  in  all  parts  of  the  world,  gone  through 
scenes  exciting,  both  as  soldier  and  hunter,  Northern  Maine, 
with  all  its  glorious  lakes,  rivers,  and  mountains,  will  stand 
paramount ;  for  there  my  experience  of  moose-hunting  was 
gained ;  there  I  made  my  maiden  effort,  which  was  a  fail- 
ure, to  return  years  afterward  and  awake  the  echoes  with 
the  war-whoop  that  proclaims  success. 

In  December  moose-deer  cast  their  horns;  by  April  the 
successors  commence  to  sprout;  by  the  end  of  June  full 
form  is  developed,  but  not  till  many  weeks  later  are  they 
denuded  of  velvet ;  when  that  takes  place,  the  antlers  are 
perfectly  white ;  but  exposure  to  the  atmosphere  soon  gives 
them  a  tawny  shade,  which  deepens  with  the  lapse  of  time. 
The  cow,. of  course,  never  bears  these  ornaments,  but  the 
young  bull-calf  at  one  year  throws  out  a  brace  of  knobs  an 
inch  in  length;  in  the  second  season  these  are  about  six 
inches  long;  the  third  year  they  increase  to  nine  or  ten 
inches,  with  a  fork ;  in  the  fourth  season  palmation  is  ex- 
hibited with  several  points.  From  this  age  there  is  a  grad- 
ual increase  in  the  palmation  and  number  of  points  till  the 
animal  attains  its  greatest  vigor,  from  which  period  the 
horns  decrease  in  width  and  weight,  at  the  same  time  be- 
coming more  elongated.  Twenty-three  is  the  greatest  num- 
ber of  points  I  have  seen  on  one  head,  and  the  weight  of  the 
horns  just  exceeded  seventy  pounds.  I  doubt  if  larger  has 
ever,  of  late  years,  been  found. 

The  young  moose-deer,  that  is,  those  under  five  years, 
frequently  do  not  show  their  new  head-dress  till  March. 


68 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


Instances  have  been  known  —  still,  I  have  no  doubt  that 
such  were  great  exceptions — of  young  males  bearing  the 
former  year's  horns  as  late  as  the  calving  season,  which  is 
in  the  end  of  April,  and  in  Labrador  and  far  northern  local- 
ities, May. 

In  September  the  rutting  season  commences.  Then  is 
the  period  to  see  this  great  animal  in  all  the  magnificence 
of  his  strength.  Reckless  and  furious,  he  rushes  about, 
bellowing  forth  defiance  to  his  own  sex,  and  what  is  ac- 
cepted as  notes  of  love  by  the  other.  Woe  betide  the  trav- 
eler, the  unarmed  or  inexperienced  man  who  should  then 
meet  him,  if  no  place  of  safety  is  at  hand,  for  naught  but 
their  total  destruction  would  be  the  result !  I  knew  an  in- 
stance where  a  French  Canadian  nearly  lost  his  life  by  one 
of  these  furious  beasts.  He  had  gone  with  his  pony  and 
sledge  to  bring  a  boat  across  a  portage,  and  on  his  return, 
while  threading  the  intricacies  of  the  bush-patl,  a  moose, 
excited  with  rage  and  lust,  rushed  past  him.  Invjiscreetly 
he  fired  a  charge  of  small  shot  after  the  retreating  terma- 
gant, which  brought  him  to  the  rightabout,  and  caused 
him  to  charge.  Into  the  boat  jumped  the  Canadian ;  but 
the  thin  ribs  and  planks  afforded  no  protection  from  such 
an  assailant.  The  frail  ci'aft  was  soon  knocked  to  pieces, 
and  our  friend  took  to  a  tree,  when,  from  his  perch,  he  wit- 
nessed his  pony  gored  and  trampled  to  death.  Moral: 
Don't  fire  small  shot  at  moose  if  you  have  any  regard  for 
your  life. 

During  the  rutting  season  many  bull-moose  are  annually 
killed ;  for  the  hunters,  taking  advantage  of  their  then  com- 
bative disposition,  secrete  themselves,  and  imitate,  by  means 
of  a  roll  of  birch-bark,  the  challenge  note  of  an  excited  male. 
Some  gallant  lord  of  the  wilderness  hears  the  false,  decep- 
tive call ;  and  believing  that  his  demesne  has  been  invaded 
by  a  rival,  towering  with  rage,  he  rushes  in  the  direction 


1 


I 


^ 


"?..;sv:,a&u.  it.i  i^^v^^iipai^ 


■ai^i&*'i 


u^ 


ViiAli 


'  •    '    «  still,  1.  uavc  no  Uoubi  ihml 

i"-of  young  males  bt^annr";  the 

1.1  uj>  iuiu  as  the  c;;'  ^  ■     i 

:  "J  ""    LiibvaJoi  .:uu  iui  uoruici 


I 


,1  .. 


uwa  yioHt  animal  iy  ail  the  ui 

liuck!' •  ""    furious,  Iv 

jM.ui  aefiancf    •;  m^  own  sex, 

'tes  uf  love  by  the  ^  '*•  v    "'^^ 

1        *  * 


•>      ilU      II. 


MO  6houl.     V...  ,, 


'II.'*,-  1 1  >  ■■  *     \  •  I  ^ 


,  of  the  bush-p  '<i 

^i,,i    j  ■  .■1./..1    v.M<t    Tnin 

of  sma.,  .....  -        .  .;.. 

'■Ill      Finr     t'"»     '5i  mIviwiV  .  .;  i;^ 


It! 
Il 


.11(1    Ci 


T>nn' 


•i?.<Tnrcl 


attlnc  5^cnj«cn  r^nnv  bn!!  ?>iorr.c  ;:rr  nnn^'nllv 


'lallengo  ii  - 


!  mn\f' 


ij- 


.    iTWjTArtB^TV*"' 


I"  u 


f 


Visit  to  st.  francis. 


71 


whence  the  sound  proceeds,  intent  on  repelling  the  intruder. 
Listening  to  the  repeated  caUs,  again  and  again  the  bull  an- 
swers, till  at  length  he  is  drawn  within  the  range  of  the 
rifle  of  the  secreted  hunter.  My  maiden  effort  at  moose- 
shooting  was  made  in  such  a  manner.  As  if  it  were  but 
yesterday,  the  who'c  adventure  is  written  plainly  on  my 
memory.  I  had  only  been  in  America  a  few  months.  The 
attractions  of  Saratoga  I  could  not  avoid,  and  when  there 
became  acquainted  with  a  family  of  St.  Francis  Indians, 
earning  a  precarious  subsistence  by  basket-making.  Before 
this  I  had  never  met  any  of  the  aborigines  of  the  American 
continent,  and  hour  after  hour  I  passed  idling  around  their 
encampment,  listening  lo  stories  of  the  chase,  and  more  es- 
pecially of  moose-hunting.  The  dark-skirmed  race  got  my 
spare  pocket-money,  and  I,  in  return,  all  their  knowledge  of 
wood-craft  that  could  be  theoretically  imparted.  The  spirit 
of  adventure  had  become  excited  within  me,  and  ere  I  left 
Saratoga  I  had  faithfully  promised  to  visit  St.  Francis  in 
autumn,  to  join  one  of  my  new  acquaintances  in  a  moose- 
hunt. 

The  beautiful  tints  of  an  American  fall  were  in  their 
greatest  brilliancy  when  I  reached  the  termination  of  a  long 
and  tedious  journey  to  accept  the  proffered  hospitalities. 
My  reception  was  not  so  enthusiastic  as  I  expected ;  in  fact, 
my  ardor  was  a  little  damped  by  the  marked  coolness  of 
my  host.  Yet,  after  coming  such  a  distance,  I  was  deter- 
mined to  carry  out  my  project,  and  a  well-stocked  purse  en- 
abled me  to  do  so.  Starting  at  eai-ly  morning,  on  a  beauti- 
ful, clear  day,  we  descended  a  tributary  stream  of  the  Pe- 
nobscot River,  for  eight  or  ten  hours.  The  easy  motion  of 
the  birch-bark,  the  grand  scenery,  and  the  brilliant-colored 
foliage  recalled  many  a  vision  I  had  formed  of  what  fairy- 
land must  resemble.  About  four  o'clock  we  disembarked, 
our  birch-bark  was  shouldered,  and  a  portage  of  a  mile  or 


li.i 


T2 


rRAllilE  AND  FOREST, 


'        \ 


two  traversed,  when  the  margin  of  a  clear,  cahn  lake  was 
reached,  surrounded  with  beautiful  green  hills.  Again  we 
launched  our  canoe  on  the  bosom  of  the  waters,  arriving  at 
a  second  halting-place  as  the  sun  in  glorious  splendor  dip- 
ped the  western  horizon.  Hiding  our  frail  birch-bark  craft 
in  some  brush,  with  my  attendant  leadiug,  we  started  up  an 
iicdivity;  after  an  hour's  rough  and  difficult  walking,  the 
Indian  stopped,  and  sounded  a  note  on  his  calling-horn. 
To  this  tliere  v/as  no  response,  but  my  friend  assured  me, 
•'  Plenty  moose  by-by." 

The  night  was  as  beautiful  as  the  day  preceding  it.  The 
hunter's  moon  was  at  its  full,  and  near  objects  could  be 
seen  almost  as  distinctly  as  when  the  sun  was  high  in  the 
heavens.  Several  efforts  with  the  call  had  b^^^n  made ;  dis- 
appointment and  failure  began  to  appear  certain,  when  a 
distant  and  unknown  sound  struck  my  ear.  At  the  same 
moment  the  redskin  seized  my  arm  and  whispered,  "  Old 
bull."  We  both  placed  ourselves  in  a  hemlock-tree,  and 
numerous  were  the  injunctions  I  received  of  the  necessity 
of  silence.  Afraid  to  move,  cramped  in  an  awkward  posi- 
tion, for  near  a  mortal  hour  I  endured  the  torments,  cer- 
tainly not  of  the  blessed  ;  still  move  I  would  not,  ultimately 
could  not,  as  the  answering  voice  of  the  bull  in  response  to 
the  Indian's  call  told  that  the  giant  was  rapidly  approach- 
ing. At  length — oh,  how  glad  I  was  ! — the  noblest  game  I 
had  ever  set  eyes  upon  broke  into  the  opening  at  a  cautious 
trot,  hesitated,  stopped,  and  impatiently  stamped  his  foot. 
The  distance  that  the  moose  was  from  us  could  not  have 
been  more  than  thirty  yards.  Slowly  and  imperceptibly 
the  Indian's  gun  was  getting  into  shooting  position.  I  at- 
tempted to  do  the  same  with  mine,  when — oh !  what  ex- 
cuse can  I  offer? — bang  went  the  right  barrel,  and,  but  for 
a  vigorous  effort,  I  should  have  fallen  from  my  porch. 

I  had  better  draw  a  veil  over  the  recriminations  tliat  en- 


:>  A 


A  MOOSE  IN  THE  FOREST. 


73 


sued,  for  homicide  was  nearly  the  result,  whether  justifia- 
ble or  not  must  be  for  others  to  decide ;  but  St.  Francis 
was  not  long  honored  with  my  presence.  Of  moose-hunt- 
ing I  had  seen  enough  for  one  season,  and  for  many  a  year 
not  even  my  bosom  friends  knew  that  I  had  ever  made  an 
attempt  to  slay  the  noblest  of  all  the  deer  family. 

In  the  close,  warm  weather  of  July  and  August  this  game 
is  much  pestered  with  flies.  To  avoid  these  plagues,  the 
moose  almost  becomes  aquatic  in  his  habits;  for  hours  he 
will  completely  submerge  himself,  with  naught  but  his  head 
above  the  surface.  At  this  season  their  principal  food  is 
the  long,  succulent  limbs  and  leaves  of  the  water-lily.  In 
the  tributary  streams  that  help  to  feed  Moosehead  Lake  it 
is  no  uncommon  thing  for  the  fisherman  or  tourist,  on  his 
aquatic  excursions,  to  come  across  moose  floating,  or  sec 
them  reach  the  shore  in  advance  of  him,  alarmed  either  by 
the  voices  or  wind  of  the  strangers.  Such  was  my  fortune 
once  when  fishing  in  a  tributary  cf  Lake  Parmacheney. 
Trout  had  all  day  been  on  the  feed ;  my  gun  lay  carelessly 
at  my  feet,  half  buried  in  blankets  and  other  hunter's  para- 
phernalia in  the  bottom  of  my  canoe,  which  I  had  permit- 
ted silently  to  drift  with  the  current.  Suddenly  I  heard  a 
splash,  as  if  all  the  fish  in  the  river  had  collected  to  make 
a  simultaneous  rise ;  but  instead  of  fin,  it  was  fur,  and  a 
splendid  moose,  bearing  a  noble  head  of  antlers,  plunged 
through  the  weeds,  and  soon  disappeared  in  the  recesses  of 
the  forest.  If  I  had  been  prepared,  or  even  had  my  gun 
been  obtainable  at  a  minute's  notice,  I  could  almost  with 
certainty  have  administered  the  coiqy  de  grace. 

When  the  season  advances,  and  the  sparse  advent  snows 
occasionally  give  warning  that  winter  is  at  hand,  the  moose- 
deer  leave  the  morass  and  river  banks  for  higher  ground. 
Hero  they  collect  in  families,  previous  to  yarding,  which 
takes  place  as  soon  as  the  lands  of  those  northern  wilds 


1  ; 


Ik; 


.'1 


74 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


i 


have  received  their  annual  deep  and  jiure  white  covering. 
At  this  time  the  moose  lives  in  comparative  security,  his 
length  of  limb  and  tremendous  power  enabling  him  to  defy 
all  pursuers.  Enjoy  well  thy  rest — enjoy  it,  I  say,  for  it  is 
but  for  a  short  season ;  for  when  the  sun  again  warms  the 
landscape,  and  a  crust  l)ecomes  formed  through  the  thaw 
by  day  and  frost  of  night,  powerful  and  noble  though  you 
be,  you  will  require  more  than  that  superhuman  -power  to 
save  you  from  the  persevering  Indian  or  venturous  white 
man.  Poor  creature !  your  chance  when  pursued,  after  a 
heavy  crust  is  formed,  is  indeed  small.  I  know  no  denizen 
of  the  forest  that,  at  any  period  of  life,  has  the  odds  so  fear- 
fully against  him. 

As  may  be  imagined,  then,  the  end  of  February  and 
March  are  the  periods  when  the  greatest  havoc  among 
these  animals  takes  place,  and  I  regret  to  say  that  frequent- 
ly the  fiendish  love  of  carnage  alone  seems  to  occupy  the 
mind  of  the  pursuer.  I  have  known  instances — I  grieve 
to  say  many — when  moose  have  been  killed  simply  for  the 
sake  of  killing ;  for,  with  the  exception  of  one  or  two  tid- 
bits, the  giant  carcass  has  been  left  to  satiate  the  appetite  of 
the  wild  beasts  of  the  forest.  If  one  who  has  been  guilty 
of  such  unjustifiable  conduct  should  read  this,  let  his  con- 
science reproach  hiir  for  the  past,  and  the  sting  of  remorse 
cause  him  to  resolve  never  to  be  again  an  offender. 

The  exact  position  of  thj  scene  which  I  am  about  to  de- 
scribe lies  within  the  limits  of  the  State  of  Maine,  about 
sixty  miles  north-east  of  Moose  Head  Lake. 

The  days  that  had  heraldod  the  advent  of  March  had 
been  extremely  warm,  the  nights  clear,  with  sharp  frost ; 
just  such  weather  as  would  be  pronounced  first-class  for 
the  collecting  of  sap  to  make  maple-sugar.  Two  days' 
journey  had  been  required  to  bring  us  to  the  desired  local- 
ity; for  we   had  bolh    agreed   tliat   no   search  for  moose 


Ia*^: 


IN  A  LOU-UUT. 


75 


de- 
vout 

had 

ost; 

}  for 
days' 

ocal- 
(loose 


should  be  made  till  a  favorite  neighborhood  was  reached, 
alike  beautiful  iu  summer  or  winter.  Moreover,  here  we 
should  find  a  log-hut,  erected  two  seasons  previously,  and 
which  we  had  every  reason  to  believe  would  be  in  a  thor- 
ough state  of  repair.  In  due  course  of  time  we  arrived  at 
our  rendezvous  ;  the  snow  was  cleared  out  of  the  structure, 
and,  considering  ail  things,  the  two  Penobscot  Indians  who 
accompanied  us  succeeded  in  making  our  temporary  resi- 
dence look  more  than  inviting.  The  first  night  passed  in 
the  usual  manner ;  we  each  pledged  the  other's  health  more 
than  once,  and  again  and  again  requited  our  pipes  with 
tobacco.  Still  we  slept  soundly,  and  day  had  well  broken 
before  either  turned  out.  A  hurried  cup  of  coffee  and  a 
few  morsels  o^  cold  meat  and  biscuit  sufficed  for  breakfast, 
so  that  ere  the  sun  had  risen  over  the  neighboring  hill  we 
were  en  route  for  the  scene  of  action.  The  country  that 
we  traversed  was  covered,  but  not  densely  crowded,  with 
hard  wood — so  open,  in  fact,  that  a  fair  shot  would  severe- 
ly have  punished  woodcock  which  had  taken  shelter  in  a 
similar  locality.  After  tramping  three  miles,  the  Indians 
leading,  and  I  causing  much  amusement  by  a  succession  of 
catastrophes  from  one  snow-shoe  overlapping  the  other, 
a  halt  was  made,  and  the  expression  of  the  guide  spoke 
plainly  of  the  vicinity  of  game ;  without  questioning,  we 
turned  off  to  the  left,  still  following  in  single  file.  Stoop- 
ing low  and  slowly  advancing  for  some  moments,  we  came 
upon  a  yard — but,  alas !  deserted  ;  but  such  had  not  been 
long  the  case.  Our  dark-skinned  companions  were  jubilant ; 
visions  of  moose -meat  fioated  before  them,  and  straigiit 
they  directed  their  steps  to  the  place  of  exit,  for  the  occu- 
pants had  winded  us  earlier  than  expected.  To  a  novice 
but  one  track  appeared,  yet  the  Indians  held  up  four  fin- 
gers to  indicate  that  number  of  Inmates.  Soon  we  found 
their  information  correct ;  for,  after  a  pursuit  of  an  hour 


M 


Pi 


76 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


and  a  half,  we  perceived  our  game — a  bull,  cow,  and  two 
calves — going  over  a  neighboring  swell.  The  reason  of  the 
deceptive  appearance  of  the  trail  is  caused  by  the  cow  and 
calves  stepping  as  nearly  as  possible  in  the  footsteps  of  the 
bull,  who  on  such  occasions  invariably  leads. 

Just  as  we  supposed  ourselves  on  the  verge  of  success, 
the  moose  passed  through  a  second  yard,  easily  known  by 
the  trampled  state  of  the  snow  and  barked  sides  of  the 
trees.  The  occupants  of  this  retreat  had  joined  those  we 
were  following.  This  additional  force  to  the  pursued  add- 
ed fresh  excitement  to  the  chase,  and  the  distress  resulting 
from  pace  was  for  the  time  forgotten.  In  an  hour  more 
we  were  again  in  view,  and  soon  afterward  among  the 
game.  My  companions  I  will  leave  to  thera^lves,  and  con- 
fine myself  to  my  own  performance.  One  of  the  males  had 
a  noble  head  of  horns.  These  I  determined  to  be  possess- 
ed of;  so,  marking  him  for  mine,  resolved  not  to  halt  till 
successful.  Again  and  again  I  thought  that  but  a  few 
minutes  would  elapse  till  I  could  shoot ;  but  either  from 
the  snow  being  less  deep,  or  the  animal  making  extra 
efforts,  at  least  an  hour  had  elapsed  before  the  quarry  was 
sufficiently  close  to  deliver  with  precision  a  fatal  shot. 

Soon  I  was  joined  by  one  of  the  Indians,  then  by  the  re- 
mainder of  our  party.  Four  moose  had  been  killed ;  so  my 
companion  and  self  agreed  that  we  had  reaped  enough  re- 
ward for  one  day's  work.  Next  day  was  equally  success- 
ful, more  game  having  been  seen  than  on  the  first  essay.  I 
doubt  not,  if  we  had  been  so  minded,  for  days  we  might 
have  continued  this  slaughter ;  but,  as  it  was,  we  had  as 
much  meat  as  we  could  transport  to  the  settlement. 

A  more  rapid  manner  of  taking  moose  when  there  is  a 
crust,  and  one  much  practiced,  is  to  be  accompanied  by  a 
small,  active  dog,  which,  if  properly  trained  to  his  work, 
wi'il  never  lay  hold,  but  only  snap  at  the  quarry's  heels. 


the  re- 


uccess- 
ay.  I 
might 
lad  as 

re  is  a 
d  by  a 
work, 
heels. 


CHANGES  OF  THE  MOOSE-DEER. 


11 


The  poor  moose  is  thus  soon  brought  to  bay ;  for  his  active 
pursuer,  whose  weight  is  so  light  that  he  does  not  break 
through  the  crust,  dances  in  security  around  the  game, 
snapping  at  everj-  exposed  point,  and  so  engaging  the  vic- 
tim's attention  that  the  hunter  can  approach  the  quarry 
sufficiently  close  to  deliver  with  certainty  an  unfailing  shot. 

The  flesh  of  the  moose,  although  sweet,  is  very  coarse. 
Still,  many  people  prefer  it  to  any  other.  I  can  not  say 
that  such  is  the  case  with  me,  good  beef  being  to  my  idea 
infinitely  superior.  The  tongue,  last  entrail,  and  especially 
the  mouflle,  or  extremity  of  the  upper  lip,  are  great  delica- 
cies, more  particularly  when  eaten  cooked  in  the  primitive 
style  of  the  backwoods.  It  may  be  the  wood-fire,  it  may 
be  the  want  of  seasoning,  or,  more  probably  still,  the  fresli 
air  and  severe  exercise  of  the  hunt;  but  all  that  I  have 
eaten  when  snugly  housed  about  a  camp-fire  has  been  rel- 
ished with  a  gusto  unknown  in  city  life.  A  bonne  bouche 
w^iich  must  not  be  forgotten,  and  which  only  the  moose- 
hunter  can  enjoy,  or  those  who  live  near  the  haunts  of  tliis 
animal,  is  the  marrow  from  the  shank-bones  of  the  legs, 
cooked  immediately  after  the  animal  is  kUled.  This,  served 
on  toast,  with  a  sprinkling  of  cayenne  pepper,  would  make 
the  mouth  of  the  most  fastidious  epicure  water  that  had 
previous  experience  of  its  excellence. 

The  moose-deer  changes  much  in  appearance  with  the  ro- 
tations of  the  seasons.  In  summer  the  coat  is  short  and 
fine;  in  winter,  coarse  and  long.  Underneath  the  hair  is 
found  an  abundant  crop  of  soft  wool,  which  doubtless  en- 
ables them  to  endure  the  great  severity  of  the  northern 
winters.  The  face  hair,  different  from  that  of  the  horse  or 
cow,  grows  upward  from  the  mouffle,  on  the  termination  of 
which  there  is  a  triangular  bare  spot.  The  power  of  the 
jaws  and  teeth  of  the  moose  is  very  great.  The  facility 
with  which  they  strip  the  bark  from  those  trees  that  con- 


78 


PRAIIUE  AND  FOREST. 


[I  ' 


) 


fititute  their  favorite  food  is  \vondei*ful.  Their  pace  is 
either  a  walk  or  trot,  the  usual  boundiug  gait  of  other 
species  being  unknown  to  them.  Even  if  a  fallen  tree  in- 
terrupt their  j)rogress,  instead  of  rising  at  it  like  a  liorse, 
they  manage  to  clamber  over  in  a  most  effective  manner. 

Two  methods  of  capturing  moose  I  have  not  alluded  to 
— for  why?  They  appear  so  antagonistic  to  all  those  feel 
ings  that  should  actuate  the  gentleman — viz.,  by  snaring 
and  trapping.  The  minutiae  of  the  modes  of  proceeding 
by  which  the  unsuspicious  game  is  induced  to  enter  either 
of  the  above  devices,  I  am  certain  would  not  be  interesting 
to  a  sportsman. 

For  many  years  it  was  a  disputed  point  whether  the 
moose-deer  of  America  and  the  elk  of  Europe  were  the 
same  species;  but  the  most  eminent  of  recent  and  present 
authorities  agree  that  they  are  identical.  Captain  Hardy, 
of  the  Royal  Artillery,  who  was  stationed  many  years  in 
Canada,  and  devoted  much  of  his  tinae  to  moose-hunting, 
as  well  as  studying  this  animal's  habits,  and  who  is  also 
conversant  with  the  European  elk,  emphatically  asserts  that 
tliere  are  not  the  smallest  grounds  for  any  diversity  of 
opinion  on  the  subject.  Audubon,  an  authority  on  Amer- 
ican natural  histoiy  second  to  none,  refuses  to  give  a  de- 
cision, and  justly  so,  for  he  was  not  conversant  with  the 
European  animal. 

The  following  adventure  occurred  to  me  while  sojourn- 
ing in  the  habitat  of  the  moose : 

For  some  days  my  fly-rod  had  been  indefatigably  and 
most  successfully  at  work,  furnishing  not  only  my  own 
table,  but  many  of  the  neighboring  families  with  trout,  30 
that  a  change  of  programme  was  far  from  unacceptable. 
One  morning  as  I  was  deliberating  in  which  direction  I 
would  go,  my  host  asked  me  if  I  should  have  any  objection 
to  accompany  him  to  lift  some  traps  he  had  not  visited 


AMERICAN  SWAMP-HARE. 


70 


since  spring.  The  trip  promised  an  acquaintance  with  a 
new  beat,  and  an  insight  into  what  I  was  not  as  yet  conver- 
sant with  in  this  section  of  the  American  continent — viz., 
the  method  followed  of  trapping  martens.  As  the  sun  was 
rising  over  the  eastern  hills — for  these  primitive  people  are 
early  risers — we  found  ourselves  about  to  leave  the  sur- 
veyed road.  My  friend  bore  on  his  back  a  sack  in  which 
to  place  his  long-neglected  traps,  while  I  carried  my  trusty 
ten-bore  double  gun,  loaded  by  request  with  ball  in  one 
barrel,  and  buck-shot  in  the  other.  Our  route  at  first  was 
through  a  dense  cedar  swamp,  exceedingly  irregular  on  the 
surface,  while  the  undergrowth  was  so  close  that  it  was 
with  difficulty  parted ;  a  thick  coating  of  moss  was  under- 
foot, so  spongy  and  full  of  water  that  if  we  remained  sta- 
tionary for  a  few  seconds  we  would  be  over  the  insteps  in 
water.  Nevertheless,  the  tracks  of  the  American  swamp- 
hare  were  innumerable;  an  animal,  by-the-bye,  which  is 
very  similar  to  the  Scotch  blue  hare,  some  authorities  going 
so  far  as  to  say  they  are  the  same  species,  slightly  changed 
by  climate  and  different  habits  of  life,  resulting  from  the 
dissimilar  localities  in  which  they  are  found. 

A  blazed  path  was  all  we  had  for  direction  j  but  as  both 
were  in  the  full  vigor  of  manhood,  we  steadily  progressed. 
Several  times  we  flushed  the  Canadian  spruce  grouse;  but 
as  my  projectiles  were  not  suited  to  this  stamp  of  game, 
and  my  companion  continually  kept  reminding  me  that 
larger  might  be  expected,  I  forbore  troubling  them. 

From  the  swamp  we  got  on  drier  soil,  very  rocky,  and 
densely  wooded  with  pine,  the  trees  increasing  in  stature 
as  we  ascended,  till  we  were  surrounded  with  such  glorious 
pines  as  might  one  day  form,  without  discredit,  the  main- 
mast of  a  line-of-battle  ship. 

Upward,  like  the  youth  who  shouted  "Excelsior,"  we 
kept  ascending;  but  wc  had  not  the  maiden  to  warn  us. 


w 


80 


PRAIltlE  AND  FOJiEST. 


I 


'  is 


i  i 


m 


El 

r  I 


w 


whoso  warning  I  doubt  not,  unless  she  had  been  unusually 
pretty,  would  have  been  disregarded.  Soon  the  walking 
became  climbing,  and  after  an  hour's  clambering  the  sum- 
mit of  the  ridge  was  reached.  Here  the  first  trap  was  lift- 
ed ;  and  at  intervals  of  two  hundred  yards  or  so,  according 
to  the  nature  of  the  ground,  the  others  were  found  distrib- 
uted. As  they  had  been  down  for  nearly  two  montha, 
whatever  had  been  captured  by  them  was  now  in  a  de- 
composed state.  Soon  the  whole  (over  a  dozen)  had  been 
gathered,  when  we  descended  to  a  stream  literally  alive 
with  fish ;  trout  of  all  sizes  up  to  a  pound  appeared  to  be 
actually  crowding  each  other;  and  so  unacquainted  were 
they  witli  man's  jDresence  that  they  totally  disregarded  our 
intrusion. 

Lunch-time  had  arrived,  and  on  the  margin  of  the  brook 
we  enjoyed  our  meal ;  several  of  the  trout,  which  my  com- 
panion had  captured  with  the  most  primitive  line,  attached 
to  a  rod  cat  from  the  nearest  tree,  forming  no  inconsider- 
able portion  of  the  meal. 

After  a  smoke  and  half-hour's  dawdle,  we  started  on  our 
return,  following  an  entirely  different  route,  equally  disad- 
vantageous for  rapid  progression.  During  our  homeward 
tramp  I  learned  that  martens  could  only  be  taken  on  the 
highest  ridges,  and  that  the  bait  used  was  either  a  red 
squirrel,  the  beautiful  little  cedar  bird,  or  the  heart  or  liv- 
er of  the  swamp -hare.  I  was  not  a  little  surprised  at  the 
number  of  times  my  companion  halted  to  inquire  if  my  gun 
was  all  right,  more  especially  as  so  far  we  had  seen  no  in- 
dications of  large  game,  excepting  some  decayed  stumps 
and  logs,  moved  where  Bruin  had  been  grubbing,  or  scratch- 
ed trees,  where  his  race  from  time  immemorial  had  been  in 
the  habit  of  stretching  themselves. 

As  the  sun  set,  we  once  more  regained  the  path,  well 
fatigued  with  our  rough  and  protracted  tramp,  myself  not 


A  UKULKINO  PAINTER. 


81 


a  little  disgusted  that  I  had  seen  nothing  sufficiently  worthy 
of  being  considered  fit  game  for  the  heavy  missiles  which 
both  my  barrels  contained.  In  fact,  I  could  not  help  open- 
ly grumbling  that  I  should  have  been  inveigled  into  such  a 
useless  journey,  which  elicited  the  response  from  my  asso- 
ciate that  I  might  thank  my  stars  we  had  got  back  safe. 
With  this  answer  for  the  time  I  had  to  be  satisfied;  but 
that  evening  the  mystery  came  out,  and  the  selfish  motives 
that  had  dictated  my  companionship  being  sought.  I  will 
endeavor  to  state  the  story  as  told  by  the  trapper : 

"Last  April,  when  the  snow  was  on  the  ground,  I  laid  out 
the  traps  we  have  to-day  lifted.  The  traveling  was  very 
bad  at  the  time,  for  it  was  near  the  break-up  of  winter.  I 
got  along  the  ridge  all  right ;  but  as  I  thought  it  better  to 
return  as  I  had  come,  I  determined  to  retrace  my  steps.  I 
had  scarcely  faced  homeward  when  I  found,  to  my  surprise, 
the  print  of  an  animal  following  my  old  track.  I  looked 
in  every  direction  to  see  where  the  follower  could  be,  but 
was  unable  to  detect  him.  However,  I  knew  well  that  the 
skulking  villain  was  no  other  than  a  painter  {Anglice, 
puma) ;  and  as  I  had  only  my  old  single-barrel  loaded  with 
bird-shot,  I  became  justly  scared.  All  of  a  tremble,  I  con- 
tinued my  course,  and  yo.i  may  bet  I  made  tracks.  The 
very  evidence  of  the  brute  following  me  showed  he  was 
after  no  good,  and  I  was  right ;  for  as  I  drew  near  the  out- 
side edge  of  the  swamp  I  saw  him  right  ahead ;  but  I  went 
out  of  the  way  to  avoid  him ;  and  after  I  left  the  wood  I 
heard  him  howl,  doubtless  in  anger  because  he  had  missed 
making  supper  off  me." 

At  the  time  I  could  not  help  thinking  that  my  host  had 
been  needlessly  alarmed,  and  told  him  so,  when  he  inform- 
ed me  that  nothing  would  have  induced  him  to  return  alone 
— in  fact,  that  he  would  sooner  have  lost  his  traps  than  do 

BO ;  that  a  painter  in  those  regions,  more  especially  in  win- 

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PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


ter,  was  much  to  be  dreaded,  and  in  corroboration  inform- 
ed me  of  a  little  tragedy  that  occurred  some  years  past  in 
the  same  neighborhood.  Two  friends  once  trapped  the 
township  of  Success.  They  had  two  beats,  running  in  re- 
verse directions,  while  the  shanty  in  which  they  both  lived 
together  was  situated  at  the  dividing  point  from  which  each 
radiated.  The  one  who  examined  the  traps  to  the  north 
to-day  visited  those  to  the  south  to-morrow,  changing  their 
routes  with  each  other  daily,  and  always  meeting  at  night  at 
their  common  residence.  Almost  half  the  season  had  thus 
passed  away,  when  one  of  the  companions  who  had  return- 
ed to  the  sleeping-place  became  seriously  alarmed  at  the 
continued  absence  of  his  friend.  At  length  the  little  cur 
dog  who  constantly  accompanied  the  missing  man  came 
home  alone.  There  is  an  end  to  every  thing,  and  so  there 
is  to  a  long  winter  night ;  and  with  the  earliest  indications 
of  day  the  anxious  watcher  sallied  forth  to  find  the  missing 
trapper,  whom  he,  after  a  long  and  weary  search,  discover- 
ed, dreadfully  mangled,  and  partially  eaten.  The  assassin 
had  been  a  painter.  The  tracks  on  the  tell-tale  snow  spoke 
correctly.  About  thirty  feet  above  where  the  corpse  lay, 
an  immense  limb  ran  out  at  right  angles  from  the  pare^-it 
tree.  From  this  the  skulking  coward  had  doubtless  sprung 
upon  the  unsuspecting  trapper. 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  the  home  of  the  giant  moose  is 
not  without  other  tenants,  some  of  whom  are  likely  to  af- 
ford adventurous  hunters  more  excitement  than  a  hot  cor- 
ner at  the  side  of  an  English  cover. 


1' 


1 


; 

I 
) 
i 


II    III 


Ai/j 

1-1!)!' 


wilbi: 


"I 
,1 

..lilii  o 

H 


i^iH 


'ii'iU'l^ 


o 


thor 


smaa  ^u  o  their  pursuit  lil]  the 

.'1  the  great  St.  La^ 
0  tray  intc»  hMier  iatiuides,  daily 

becomo  }  ^  'iaut. 

taay  be  found  i  \- 

Imi  t)  to 


■'^r>  Hiidson  l;i 


be* 


•ofs,  iiiUv 


I 


,,»»»,. -9;T^«:.,t3S£.„.  i ,  ,j4i,  :,mMi^. 


!  '-.illll 


CHAPTER  V. 

CARIBOU. 

Although  occasionally  the  caribou  is  killed  within  the 
limits  of  the  United  Statos,  they  have  ever  there  been  deem- 
ed scarce,  doubtless  from  it  being  the  extreme  southern  lim- 
it of  their  habitat,  nor  can  they  be  found  in  such  numbers 
as  to  justify  the  sportsman  going  in  their  pursuit  till  the 
northern  shores  of  the  great  St.  Lawrence  are  gained ;  from 
whence,  as  the  traveler  advances  into  higher  latitudes,  daily 
indications  of  their  presence  will  become  more  abundant. 
How  far  to  the  north  they  may  be  found  is  doubtful,  al- 
though it  is  beyond  a  question  that  their  range  extends  to 
the  Arctic  Circle.    The  almost  unknown  interior  of  the 
vast  island  of  Newfoundland  abounds  with  them;  also  the 
interior  of  Labrador;  while  in  the  uninhabited  waste  be- 
tween Hudson  Bay  and  Alaska,  late  Russian  America,  their 
numbers  are  so  great  as  to  form  the  staple  article  of  food 
of  the  inhabitants  of  these  dismal  lands. 

Capable  of  resisting  with  comparative  impunity  the  great- 
est severity  of  cold,  they  suffer  severely  from  heat,  to  avoid 
which  they  make  two  migrations  annually — to  the  north  in 
summer,  grazing  back  to  the  south  in  winter.  During  these 
journeys  the  greatest  destruction  of  the  species  takes  place; 
for  they  almost  invariably  follow  the  same  line  of  march, 
with  which  the  natives  are  acquainted,  and  where  they  await 
for  the  herd  either  entering  mountain  defiles  or  crossing 
rivers,  when  they  are  surrounded  Pnd  indiscriminately 
slaughtered.  They  are  also  hunted  on  snow-shoes,  after 
the  manner  of  moose. 


.Liiiiisli: 


86 


PEAIRLE  AND  FOREHT. 


\ 


t 


As  caribou  are  possessed  of  great  vitality,  they  require 
heavy  hitting:  so  a  rifle  of  large  calibre  ought  to  be  em- 
ployed by  the  sportsman. 

Although  there  are  upon  the  American  continent  two 
very  distinctly  marked  varieties  of  the  reindeer,  I  can  not 
adopt  the  idea  of  many  travelers  that,  so  conspicuous  is 
their  dissimilarity,  they  are  entitled  to  be  considered  dis- 
tinct species. 

We  are  all  aware  that  difference  of  climate,  local  causes, 
and  abundance  or  paucity  of  food  work  wonderful  altera- 
tion on  animal  life — more  especially  in  regulating  their  stat- 
ure ;  for  instance,  the  moose-deer  of  Labrador  seldom  ex- 
ceeds sixteen  and  a  half  hands,  while  that  of  Nova  Scotia 
and  New  Brunswick  has  been  known  to  attain  twenty-one  or 
even  twenty-two  hands  {vide  Audubon).  Now  the  grounds 
that  are  taken  for  asserting  that  there  are  two  species  of 
caribou  are  exactly  the  same,  and  would  equally  justify  the 
decision  that  there  are  two  species  of  elk.  The  woodland 
caribou  leads  a  life  of  comparative  idleness  among  the 
dense  swamps  and  pine-clad  hills,  where  food  is  constantly 
to  be  found  in  abundance.  The  barren  caribou,  on  the  oth- 
er hand,  inhabits  the  immense  flats  or  mountain  ridges  close 
to  the  Arctic  Circle,  where  vegetable  growth  is  sparse,  and 
little  shelter  afforded  from  the  biting  cold  winds  and  snows 
peculiar  to  so  high  a  latitude.  So  great  often  are  the  straits 
the  latter  variety  are  submitted  to  from  the  inhospitable 
nature  of  their  habitat,  that  in  some  districts  they  are  com- 
pelled to  become  migratory  to  obtain  the  necessaries  of  life. 
Is  it,  then,  to  be  wondered  at  that  there  should  be  a  mark- 
ed difference  in  size  bot '-een  the  inhabitant  of  the  shelter- 
ed forest  and  the  wanderer  upon  the  barren  upland  waste  ? 

Another  strange  circumstance  has  often  struck  me — 
viz.,  that  although  the  reindeer  has  for  ages  been  domes- 
ticated in  Europe  and  Asia,  employed  both  to  draw  and 


*J  'rK 


:>fi<-y>f 


8('. 


1  U/i'A'^i. 


I  of  great  vitality,  they  re-juiro 
I  larrro  calibre  ought  U(  be  eiu- 


! 


i\ 


..i  .re  upon  the  Arnericim  continent  two 

irkcd  varieties  of  the  reindeer,  I  caji  not 
f  nifiny  travelers  that,  so  conspicuous  is 
aimiiarity,  they  are  entitled  to  be  considered  dis- 
tinct 8{«;cies. 

We  are  all  aware  that  difference  of  climate,  local  causes, 
and  abundance  or  paucity  of  food  work  wonderfid  altera- 
:  ion  on  animal  life—  more  especially  in  regulating  their  stat- 

r  Labr;ii>)r  seldom  ex- 


ure ;  foi 
coeds  six'tt 


ek  has  boon  knowi' 
Audnbi 


rounds 


ft 


a 
o 
a 


i 


")u  ar<  lukl  equally  justify  the 

it  there  are  two  species  of  elk.    The  woodlan^l 
'  '  ))nparative  idleness  among  the 

lionsr  swam  pa  and  pine-cdad  lulls,  where  food  is  constantly 
ir.  be  found  in  abil'ndarioe.  Tlie  barren  caribou,  on  the  oth- 
er hand,  inhabits  the  in  ; 

kble  growtli  in  sparse      •  ' 
liuic  im  the  biting  cold  ivi:  I  snows 

:  (iculut!  "' great 

'he  latt  )m  the  iniiospitublo 

nifir .•  )i  their  habitat,  ttiaii  in  some  districts  they  are  coni- 
o  become  migratory  to  obtain  the  necessaries  of  life, 
vonde-  '  !d  be  a,  mark- 

•«  iu  sizo  betwevu  the  ntiiabit^iut  of  the  shelter- 
he  wanderer  upon   '     "'    rren  upland  waste  ? 
circumstance  iia.->   often  struc' 


H 


a 


i1 


REINDEER  NOT  DOMESTICATED  IN  AMERICA. 


80 


carry  freights,  as  well  as  provide  milk  for  the  inhabitants 
of  Lapland  and  the  Siberian  wastes,  no  attempt  over  ap- 
pears to  have  been  made  in  the  New  World  to  utilize  their 
capacities.  This  is  the  more  surprising  when  wo  consider 
tliat  only  a  few  years  back  Russia  possessed  a  large  por- 
tion of  the  north-west  angle  of  the  Continent  of  America, 
a  country  literally  swarming  with  wild  caribou,  from  the 
herds  of  which  no  difficulty  would  be  found  to  make  cap- 
tives. Still,  such  has  never  been  done  with  a  view  of  utiliz- 
ing their  labor,  although  in  her  possessions  across  the  Behr- 
ing  Sea  reindeer  are  in  constant  use  among  the  sparse  pop- 
ulation that  inhabits  the  North  Asiatic  slopes  that  margin 
the  Pacific.  Between  America  and  Asia,  up  in  these  high 
latitudes,  for  many  years  an  extensive  trade  has  been  car- 
ried on  in  furs,  so  that  the  inhabitants  of  the  one  continent 
must  have  intercourse  with,  and  a  knowledge  of  the  ways 
of  life  of  the  other. 

Although  the  reindeer  easily  becomes  domesticated,  and 
when  in  that  state  is  no  more  difficult  to  herd  than  sheep, 
still,  when  in  the  wild  state,  particularly  if  near  to  the  con- 
fines of  civilization,  they  are  of  all  game  the  most  difficult 
to  approach,  even  to  obtain  sight  of.  Their  large,  heavy 
ears  enable  them  to  possess  most  wonderful  powers  of 
hearing,  and  their  olfactory  organs  and  sight  are  none  the 
less  acute;  so  that  they  are  able  to  distinguish  the  approach 
of  an  intruder  upon  their  demesne  long  before  the  sports- 
man is  aware  of  their  presence.  Thus,  when  hunting  car- 
ibou, I  have  often  come  across  the  indentations  caused  by 
their  tread  in  the  soft,  bent  mjss  of  the  swamp,  and  so  late- 
ly made  that  you  might  observe  the  pressed  stems  revert- 
ing to  their  original  position,  still  no  sight  of  the  quarry 
could  be  obtained,  although  it  was  impossible  they  could 
be  more  than  a  second  or  two  in  your  advance.  However, 
the  caribou  has  a  way  of  stealing  off,  gliding,  as  it  were, 


90 


PBAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


\  i 


oat  of  sight,  which  in  so  hirge  an  animal  appears  impossi- 
ble. To  accomplish  this,  they  lower  their  backs,  push  their 
heads  far  forward,  with  the  antlers  laying  close  along  the 
withers,  while  each  foot  is  raised,  and,  with  very  bended 
knee,  placed  far  and  silently  in  advance  of  the  other.  To 
observe  this  done,  the  action  is  so  slow  and  measured,  that 
you  can  not  help  being  astonished  at  the  rapidity  of  pro- 
gression that  results.  The  moose,  also,  will  practice  this 
ruse  to  avoid  observation ;  but  it  is  far  from  as  great  an 
adept  in  it  as  the  caribou.  In  summer  this  animal  almost 
becomes  aquatic  in  its  life ;  for,  whether  it  result  from  the 
pestering  annoyance  of  the  legions  of  mosquitoes  or  black 
flies  that  constantly  hover  around  them,  or  its  love  for  the 
refreshing  influence  of  the  bath,  it  appears  to  speiid  day 
after  day  submerged,  with  little  else  than  its  nose,  eyes,  and 
horns  above  water.  At  this  season  it  feeds  but  little  dur- 
ing day ;  but  when  the  sun  has  set,  and  the  atmosphere  be- 
comes cooler,  it  sallies  off  to  the  woodland  and  swamps  in 
search  of  its  favorite  lichens  and  ground  shrubs.  The 
shooting  of  one  species  of  deer  so  much  resembles  another, 
and  I  have  already  described  so  many  adventures  in  pur- 
suit of  moose  and,  hereafter,  in  the  pursuit  of  the  more 
common  Virginian  deer  that  I  will  tax  the  reader's  pa- 
tience no  further  than  to  add,  that  to  be  successful  in  pur- 
suit of  caribou,  unless  when  they  are  swimming  the  great 
rivers  in  their  annual  migrations,  the  hunter  must  be  cool 
and  self-possessed,  have  an  extensive  knowledge  of  wood- 
craft, and  powers  cf  endurance  to  bear  fatigue  of  no  ordi- 
nary quality. 

The  peculiar  and  varied  formations  that  the  horns  of  the 
caribou  assume  have  been  the  subject  of  much  controversy 
among  the  cognoscenti.  Why  palmation  should  occur  in 
one  antler  over  the  brow  and  in  another  at  the  extremities, 
has  been  accounted  for  by  individuals  doubtless  to  their 


V 


SSl- 

leir 
the 
led 
To 
hat 
)ro- 
ihis 
an 

lOSt 

the 
ack 
the 
3ay 
and 
lur- 
be- 
3  in 
rhe 
ler, 
)ur- 
ore 
pa- 
)ur- 
•eat 

!00l 

od- 
rdi- 


the 
irsy 
in 
ies, 
leir 


; 


DIFFBRKNX  TVl'KS   OF   CARIBOU   HORNS. 


own  satj>:' 

lie.    Fo'-  ^' 
to  tltl^ 
time, ..  .-.,.. 


t?ve  geucr.it  pub- 

'  rv  in  reference 

'  it  for  eorne 

vU.^tv,  .;•,   to  kill  u  cari- 


'Jit    UU.', 


/ 


'*^§30^ 


VlWvKUiWS  TYi 


AiilwutT   itOTllvA. 


THE  CARIBOU. 


93 


own  satisfaction,  but  I  fear  not  at  all  so  to  the  general  pub- 
lic. For  myself,  when  I  have  formed  a  theory  in  reference 
to  this  animal's  antlers,  and  possibly  nursed  it  for  some 
time,  I  have  had  the  misfortune  ov  otherwise  to  kill  a  cari- 
bou that  annihilated  the  pretty  little  structure  I  had-  built. 
Thus  the  horns  here  represented,  although  taken  from  life, 
must  not  be  accepted  as  a  stereotyped  pattern  of  the  whole 
family. 


f 


CHAPTER  VI. 

WAPITTI    DEER. 

What  I  have  said  in  reference  to  the  habitat  of  the  bi- 
son may  be  repeated  as  regards  the  Wapitti,  with  this  ex- 
ception, that  it  does  not  roam  so  far  north  by  some  degrees 
of  latitude.  Thus  the  visitor  to  the  district  I  have  recom- 
mended for  bufEalo-lmnting  will  have  the  advantage  of  en- 
joying both  descriptions  of  sport. 

I  do  not  consider  this  noble  game  swift  when  you  com- 
pare it  with  the  other  species  of  the  deer  family.  From 
this  I  am  led  to  believe  the  statement  of  a  well-known 
sportsman,  who  holds  a  commission  in  the  United  States 
regular  service,  that  he  and  his  brother  officers  have  fre- 
quently ridden  them  down.  Such  sport  must  be  eminently 
exciting,  if  the  ground  be  good  that  you  gallop  over  to  at- 
tain such  results  in  such  a  chase.  A  heavy  pistol  or  short 
carbine  would  be  the  weapon  I  should  prefer. 

For  stalking  the  Wapitti,  the  rifle,  and  that  of  heavy  c«al- 
ibre,  ought  to  be  employed ;  for  so  large  and  powerful  an 
animal  requires  no  ordinary  shock  to  effectually  paralyze 
the  system,  so  as  to  prevent  the  victim  wandering  off  to 
die  a  lingering  death,  and  ultimately  become  food  for  the 
carnivorsB.  The  habit  that  sportsmen  of  the  United  States 
have  of  using  small-bore  arms  when  in  pursuit  of  large 
game  is  much  to  be  deprecated ;  for  the  result  is,  that  a 
great  number  of  the  stricken  do  not  fall  till  they  are  entire- 
ly lost  to  the  hunter. 

In  Scotland  the  red  deer  is  vaunted,  and  his  praises 
sung,  for  he  is  truly  a  noble  beast,  alike  trying  the  hunt- 


1 


""■:(' 


»  •'",■■ 


^n^^^ 


I 


CllAi    !r,n      .  I. 

^^■       '    I"  I  I)  E  E  u . 

^'  ^'.'i  :a  >i  ferenci  u  habitat  of  the    m 

son  may  ed  as  regards  the  Wjipltt),  with  this  ux- 

<!C'})tioii,that  it  does  not  roam  bo  far  jiprth  by  some  degrees 
of  latitude.     Thius  the  visitor  to  the  district  I  have  ve<'o?iv 
mended  for  biiffMlodmnting  will  have  the  advantage         .. 
joyintr  both  of  sport. 


ijin 

known 

*inan,  nissioi!  uited  States 

rv!^nUar  service,  that  he  and  his  v  officers  have  fre- 

'l'J<'»'  down.     Such  sport  ue  eniinenlly 

"3  gooi  ■■,     allop  over  to  at^ 

A  heavy  pistol  or  short 

'  rpou  I  should  p 

Vnv  Hiaiking  the  \S  ,  .  that  of  heavy  cal- 

'»e  employe*?  .fulan 

autmal  r.  ,.filyxe 

t])e  i^ystem,  inttering  off  to 

■   lingering  death  become  food  for  the 

The  habit  that  «portsmen  of  tlie  United  States 

^'>*  aH-bo^'  -  when  in  pursuit  ro^e 

deprecated;  for  the  result  ij^.  tlmt  u 
•i  the  BtrieketJ  do  not  fail  tiUthr  entire- 

mter. 

•aunted,  and-  his  praises 

•''*''^j  .!^  thi- 


ll 


WAPITTI   DEER. 


l^-- 


I 


'"'""fP™    RVV«t   '*^* 


^1 


WAPITTI  DEER. 


07 


er*s  courage  and  endurance ;  but  if  Caledonia's  rocky  glens 
and  heath-covered  mountains  boast  of  possessing  such  a 
hero,  the  far-distant  plains  and  central  plateaus  of  Amer- 
ica have  a  right  to  glory,  for  they  feed  and  shelter  a  nobler 
quarry,  if  size  and  power  constitute  such.  The  New  Land 
surpasses  us  in  the  magnitude  of  its  rivers,  mountains, 
water-falls,  and  trees ;  in  her  animal  creation,  also,  she  is 
ahead.  Facts  are  facts ;  and  when  such  is  the  case,  the 
Britishers  should  surrender  with  a  good  grace ;  for  to  con- 
tradict, even  evince  skepticism,  would  only  prove  our  igno- 
rance. 

But  a  thought  arises  in  my  mind,  Will  the  Western 
World  long  possess  those  representatives  of  animal  life  of 
which  she  has  a  just  right  to  be  proud?  I  say  no,  if  the 
work  of  destruction  continues  as  now;  for  every  border 
ruffian,  every  squatter,  is  allowed  to  slaughter  at  his  will, 
and  at  all  seasons,  creatures  the  possession  of  which  any 
land  has  a  right  to  be  proud. 

To  the  old  mountaineers  and  Indian  traders  this  animal 
was  known  by  one  appellation,  and  that  an  erroneous  one ; 
and  so  constant  has  become  its  use,  that  even  among  the 
educated  classes  this  misnomer  will  be  heard;  thus  the 
Wapitti  is  invariably  denominated  an  elk,  the  proper  name 
for  a  moose ;  so  that  the  sportsman  desirous  of  devoting 
his  time  to  the  pursuit  of  Wapitti  deer,  in  seeking  infor- 
mation where  they  are  to  be  found,  had  better  inquire  for 
the  animal  under  his  false  sobriquet.  It  is  strange  how 
many  mistakes  of  this  description  have  crept  into  the  nam- 
ing of  American  quadrupeds,  fishes,  and  birds :  thus  the 
buffalo  is  a  bison ;  the  pheasant,  a  grouse ;  the  quail  or 
partridge,  an  ortix.  Dozens  of  these  errors  could  be  enu- 
merated, but  the  previous  examples  will  suffice. 

The  noble  horns  which  the  stag  Wapitti  bears  give  him 
a  most  imposing  appearance;  for  they  are  wide-branching, 

6 


08 


PRAIRIE  Am)  FOREST. 


i 


ponderous,  and  covered  with  numerous  points,  and  not  un- 
frequently,  in  the  case  of  very  old  males,  semi-palmatcd. 
In  height  the  stag  frequently  stands  fourteen  hands  and  a 
half ;  and  so  powerful  are  their  proportions,  that  the  car- 
cass is  as  broad  and  strongly  put  together  as  that  of  a 
draft -cob.  Possibly  it  may  be  the  knowledge  of  their 
strength,  but,  unlike  the  majority  of  their  family,  they  pre- 
fer open  prairie  or  sparsely  treed  river-edges  to  the  dense- 
ly covered  wet  lands.  From  this  circumstance  it  is  easy 
to  find  abundant  opportunities  to  course  them  with  grey- 
hounds ;  but,  from  the  strength  of  the  adversary,  your 
dogs  must  be  of  great  size  and  courage ;  even  then,  if  the 
game  bo  driven  to  bay,  woe  betide  the  aggressor  who 
should  come  within  reach  of  his  powerful  fore- feet,  for  ho 
can  deal  a  blow,  or,  rather,  make  a  thrust  with  his  sharp- 
pointed  hoofs,  that  literally  would  go  through  the  panel  of 
an  ordinary  dooi*.  Well  the  wolf  knows  this  ;  and  it  is  of 
rare  occurrence  that  the  blood  thirsty  robber  dares  to  ap- 
proach a  member  of  this  species,  unless  he  be  disabled  by 
wounds  or  effete  from  age.  I  do  not  think,  from  the  in- 
formation I  have  been  able  to  obtain,  from  searching  old 
authorities  who  have  written  on  the  fauna  of  North  Amer- 
ica, that  the  range  of  the  Wapitti  ever  extended  eastward 
to  the  Atlantic  sea-board,  but  that  their  habitat  commenced 
with  the  prairie  country,  say  Illinois  or  Indiana.  However, 
these  States  have  long  ceased  to  know  them ;  for,  like  oth- 
er large  game,  they  have  rapidly  retired  before  the  tide  of 
emigration.  The  upper  waters  of  the  Missouri,  the  plains 
around  the  fork  of  the  North  and  South  Saskatchewan  are 
where,  at  the  present  day,  this  mammoth  stag  will  be  found 
most  abundant.  The  adventurer  who  would  follow  them 
to  these  fastnesses  must  be  a  brave,  determined  person,  for 
it  is  the  centre  of  the  hunting-grounds  of  some  of  the  most 
warlike  and  treacherous  of  all  the  Indian  tribes ;  and  of  late 


THE  STAG  OF  CANADA. 


90 


years  so  many  acts  of  retaliation — yea,  and  treachery — have 
been  practiced  by  the  white  man  upon  the  aborigines,  that 
the  aborigines  are  too  apt  to  regard  all  pale-faces  as  their 
natural-born  enemies.  Thus,  to  shoot  Wapitti  will  proba- 
bly entail  shooting  savages;  for  if  you  are  not  prepared 
to  do  so  in  self-defense,  it  is  highly  improbable  that  you 
will  return  to  the  land  of  your  nativity  to  relate  your 
knowledge  of  their  habits,  or  the  success  you  have  had  in 
their  pursuit. 

The  stag  of  Canada — for  by  this  name  the  Wapitti  is  sci- 
entifically known — is  essentially  gregarious,  and  sometimes 
herds  amount  to  hundreds ;  but  as  a  rule  they  will  be  found 
assembled  in  coteries  of  a  dozen  or  more,  the  females  inva- 
riably performing  the  duties  of  sentinels ;  and  although  they 
are  less  difficult  of  approach  than  either  the  Virginian  or 
black-tailed  deer,  still  it  is  necessary  for  the  stalker  never 
to  disregard  wind  and  intervening  obstacles  if  he  desires  to 
get  sufficiently  close  to  the  game  to  deal  it  a  certain  shot. 

In  very  stormy  weather,  particularly  if  it  be  accompanied 
with  snow,  however,  I  have  known  them  possess  the  utmost 
indifference  to  man's  presence,  so  that  even  after  being 
wounded  they  would  scarcely  move  above  a  few  yards 
from  the  place  where  they  had  been  •stricken.  In  fact, 
under  such  circumstances,  they  appear  to  get  confused  and 
afraid  to  flee,  lest  the  herd  should  become  separated  and 
broken  up.  On  such  occasions  as  these  the  Indians  make 
great  havoc  among  them  ;  for  it  is  a  peculiarity  of  this  race 
that  they  never  cease  from  slaughter  while  a  survivor  re- 
mains within  their  reach.  One  would  imagine  that  expe- 
rience would  teach  them  otherwise,  for  there  is  scarcely  a 
year  that  these  aborigines  are  not  reduced  to  the  most  des- 
perate straits  from  famine ;  but  their  improvidence  is  in- 
herent, and  to  the  end  of  time  they  will  practice  the  adage, 
"  Sufficient  unto  the  day  is  the  evil  thereof." 


100 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


I  can  not  leave  the  Wapitti  deer  witliout  recording  one 
of  the  numerous  adventures  that  occurred  to  me  while  a 
resident  in  the  region  that  they  inhabit.  As  a  rule,  my  con- 
tretemps in  their  pursuit  were  not  very  exciting,  for  they 
are  a  large  animal,  and,  as  I  have  previously  said,  far  from 
as  wary  as  many  smaller  species  of  the  genus ;  thus,  if  the 
first  barrel  had  not  effectually  done  Its  work  of  destruction, 
the  second  seldom  failed,  for  it  was  a  rare  occurrence  for 
me  to  draw  trigger  till  within  fifty  yards. 

I  had  met  in  one  of  the  sequestered  valleys  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  from  whence  a  tributary  of  the  Yellowstone 
flowed,  a  couple  of  wanderers.  Two  more  objectionable 
beings  it  would  be  difficult  to  find.  The  veriest  offscour- 
ings of  u  jail  could  not  excel  them  in  villainy  and  repulsive- 
ness  of  appearance.  Still,  they  were  white  men,  and,  as 
such,  were  welcomed  as  brothers ;  so  we  cast  lot  together, 
and  commenced  housekeeping  in  common.  The  first  night 
after  our  meeting  a  slight  amount  of  disagreeableness  oc- 
curred, through  the  elder  of  my  nev  associates  being  dis- 
covered ransacking  my  pack,  as  he  said,  for  tobacco.  Now, 
tobacco  was  scarce  in  these  regions ;  and  although  I  would 
willingly  have  shared  with  a  friend,  still,  I  objected  to  be 
deprived  of  what  was  as  important  to  me  as  my  molars  by 
an  individual  I  knew  nothing  about,  and  still  more,  already 
had  acquired  an  intuitive  dislike  to.  Happily,  next  day  we 
were  joined  by  a  new-comer,  or  I  believe  a  row  would  have 
taken  place,  for  I  could  see  that  an  entente  cordiale  existed 
between  the  duo  far  from  amicable  to  my  interests.  How- 
ever, the  stranger's  advent  acted  as  a  sedative,  and  the  most 
acute  could  not  have  imagined  that  aught  but  the  most  per- 
fect comradeship  existed  among  us.  Some  time  after  the 
sun  went  down  a  game  of  euchre  was  proposed.  Never 
having  cared  particularly  about  cards,  I  said  nothing ;  so 
the  movement  was  carried  without  opposition.     The  strati- 


A  rJiETTY  CAMPING-GROUND. 


101 


ger  was  assigned  to  me  as  a  partner,  and  the  stakes  to  be 
played  for  were  tobacco,  lead,  or  powder ;  in  fact,  any  thing 
we  possessed.  My  antagonists  were  both  miners  from  the 
north  of  England,  but  a  long  time  residents  in  the  New 
Land  ;  my  partner  a  regular  down-east  Yankee.  For  some 
time  all  went  en  straight  and  fair,  but  it  was  not  destined 
that  such  should  continue.  We  had  been  euchred  three 
times  in  succession,  when  both  my  partner  and  self  detect- 
ed our  opponents  passing  cards  to  each  other  beneath  the 
blanket  that  covered  our  kiiees.  Hard  language  immedi- 
ately ensued,  knives  and  pistols  were  drawn ;  but  all  thought 
better  of  it,  and  peace  between  the  belligerents  was  pro- 
claimed for  the  night. 

On  the  morrow,  however,  we,  partner  and  self,  left  the 
old  camp,  and  started  with  the  intention  of  founding  a  set- 
tlement of  our  own. 

Half  an  hour  before  dark  we  reached  one  of  the  prettiest 
camping-grounds  that  the  eye  of  wearied  hunter  ever  rested 
on  ;  and  as  the  night  was  fine,  we  satisfied  ourselves  with  a 
fire,  without  taking  the  trouble  to  erect  a  wigwam  of  boughs. 
Thus  far  I  had  not  studied  mv  new  friend :  from  his  man- 
ner  on  the  previous  evening,  he  undoubtedly  was  pluck 
to  the  backbone ;  not  insufficiently  educated,  but  crude — 
deucedly  crude.  I  say  this  from  a  habit  he  had,  namely,  of 
expectorating  on  whatever  offered  a  fair  surface  for  a  shot 
— the  piece  of  birch-bark  that  had  been  piimed  up  at  the 
corner  to  make  a  wash-dish ;  in  fact,  any  thing  smooth  he 
could  not  resist  squirting  at.  The  first  time  he  indulged 
in  this  weakness  was  to  deluge  the  upper  of  my  cow-skin 
boot.  On  my  angrily  remonstrating,  he  protested  that  he 
meant  no  insult,  but  simply  wished  to  see  what  kind  of  map 
he  made.  "Well,  what  do  you  make  out  of  it?"  said  I, 
half  indignant,  still  partially  appeased. 

"  Why,"  returned  ho, "  a  map  of  Asia ;  and  these  splashes 


102 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREIST. 


are  the  Malay  Archipelngo ;  don't  you  see  ? — it  is  as  plain 
as  a  pike-staff — there  is  Sumatra,  Java,  Borneo,  and  the 
Celebes;  that  is  the  Straits  of  Malacca,  and  those  Sunda. 
Well,  I  have  often  thought  of  going  to  them  parts ;  for,  the 
oftener  I  spit,  the  more  frequently  I  make  the  self-same 
show,  clearly  telling  that  there  is  an  opening  in  that  coun- 
try for  a  man  of  intellect  and  energy.  You  are  not  listen- 
ing ;  iTut  look  here,  Britisher,  just  look  how  quick  the  Hin- 
doostan  peninsula  dried  up,  showing  nairey  a  doubt  that 
there  an't  a  show  for  a  Yankee  nohow  in  that  benighted 
land." 

From  ray  own  experience,  I  knew  there  was  a  deal  of 
truth  in  what  the  Massachusetts  school-master  said ;  and  I 
wished  Old  England  would  only  see  the  necessity  of  hold- 
ing in  her  own  hands  these  self-same  Straits  of  Malacca 
and  Sunda  with  the  same  jealous  care  as  she  does  our  In- 
dian empire,  as  through  them  all  our  most  valuable  com- 
merce must  pass  to  the  populous  north-eastern  shores  of  the 
Pacific. 

Pleasant  company,  yet  a  great  character,  was  this  Yan- 
kee. Here  he  was  evidently  on  a  hunting  tour,  yet  he  could 
not  shoot ;  and  when  in  search  of  game,  in  spite  of  remon- 
strance, would  frequently  produce  his  tuning-foi'k,  and  strike 
up  some  doleful  psalm  through  his  nose,  instead  of  from  his 
mouth,  to  let  the  hills  of  this  heatl  ju  land  resound,  as  he 
said,  to  the  songs  of  the  Lord.  * 

Mr.  School-master — for  I  found  out  he  was  a  dominie; 
any  fool  with  a  grain  of  sense,  except  myself,  rniglit  have 
known  with  half  an  eye  that  he  was  something  out  of  the 
ordinary  line — never  killed  any  thing ;  so  the  duty  of  sup- 
porting two  mouths  instead  of  one  devolved  upon  me. 
From  soon  after  sunrise  to  sundown  I  was  invariably  from 
camp,  leaving  my  new  associate  to  the  bent  of  his  fancies, 
provided  he  looked  after  the  horses,  and  kept  sufficient  fire- 


THE  NEW-ENOLAND  SCHOOL-MASTER. 


103 


M 


5 


wood  for  the  coming  night's  consumption.  The  day  had 
been  dark  and  gloomy;  the  season,  Indian  summer;  the 
hour,  as  far  as  I  judged,  three  in  the  afternoon,  when,  to 
my  surprise,  I  heard  the  report  of  a  gun  in  the  direction 
of  camp.  As  the  school-master,  from  want  of  success,  had 
almost  given  up  the  use  of  his  gun,  the  report  struck  me 
as  ominous  of  evil,  so  I  hurried  rapidly  forward  to  discover 
what  could  have  induced  him  to  shoot,  nor  was  I  long  kept 
in  suspense,  for  in  an  opening,  a  few  yards  in  front,  I  saw 
a  fine  stag  Wapitti  engaged  in  a  determined  battle  with 
my  comrade.  The  deer  was  on  three  legs,  one  of  the  fore 
ones  being  smashed  below  the  knee,  while  my  companion, 
with  his  gun  clubbed,  carefully  watched  his  assailant.  For- 
tunately for  the  school-master,  the  stag's  agility  was  seri- 
ously impeded  by  the  shattered  limb,  or  the  -contest  would 
have  been  ere  this  finished;  as  it  was,  he  had  to  display 
his  activity,  and  rivaled  in  it  any  French  dancing-master  I 
had  ever  met.  But  for  the  rapid  evolutions  of  assailed  and 
assailant,  I  could  have  easily  killed  the  deer;  but  twice  as 
I  was  about  to  press  the  trigger  the  wrong  pbject  was  in 
the  line  of  fire.  The  position  of  this  eccentric  man  was  not 
without  danger ;  yet  when  I  approached  the  combatants  to 
give  him  assistance,  I  was  almost  rendered  incaj)able  of  the 
task  by  the  risibility  of  the  whole  affair ;  for  even  in  his 
most  adroit  movements,  even  when  the  foe's  antlers  were 
within  a  foot  of  his  body,  he  kept  chanting  through  his 
nasal  organ  something  or  other  about  letting  the  hills  re- 
sound, only  stopping  in  his  vocal  exhibition  when  he  struck 
the  assailant  a  blow  with  the  butt  of  his  musket,  when  the 
exclamation,  "  One  for  his  knob,"  would  come  from  his  lips 
with  much  emphasis. 

At  length  my  approach  was  perceived,  when  he  retreat- 
ed toward  me,  expressing  his  conviction  that  he  had  never 
doubted  that  the  Lord  would  send  him  succor.     After  the 


■ 


104 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


I 


gallant  stag  had  subsided  to  a  neat  shoulder- shot,  I  was 
graciously  awarded  a  solution  of  the  situation  in  which  I 
discovered  him. 

"I  was  singing  the  'Old  Hundl-ed,'  and  I  was  in  prime 
voice ;  and  didn't  the  echoes  take  it  up  rejoicingly !  for 
you  see  it  is  the  first  time  that  this  benighted  heathen 
land  has  heard  the  voice  of  a  Christian,  when  that  beast — 
the  emissary  of  the  evil  one,  doubtless — without  a  bit  of 
provocation,  came  ramping  at  me.  There  was  no  mistake 
in  his  intentions,  for  his  eyes  were  bleared,  and  I  could  see 
he  was  panting  for  my  blood.  So  I  thinks  of  my  weapon; 
but  in  my  hurry  to  let  it  off,  I  forgot  to  fetch  it  to  my 
cheek ;  so  you  see  it  was  a  merciful  interposition  of  Provi- 
dence that  caused  the  charge  to  go  straight ;"  and,  looking 
at  the  carcass,  he  spoke  a  soliloquy  about  the  children  of 
darkness  ever  succumbing  to  the  children  of  light. 

If  he  had  got  the  weapon  to  his  cheek,  our  worthy  friend 
would  doubtless  have  missed  the  stag,  which  from  its  ap- 
pearance was  rutting,  and,  like  all  the  deer  family  when  in 
that  state,  exceedingly  dangerous. 

A  month's  residence  with  the  New  England  school-mas- 
ter  gave  a  considerable  insight  into  his  character.  He  was 
always  trying  to  be  good,  very  good,  unless  when  temptation 
came  in  his  way ;  and  one  of  these,  which  he  could  not  re- 
sist, was  to  cheat  at  cards.  At  it  I  again  and  again  detected 
him,  lectured  him  in  consequence,  asserting  I  would  not 
play  further  with  him  if  it  re-occurred,  and  in  the  very 
next  deal  he  would  be  guilty  of  the  same  malpractices ;  so 
at  length  we  both  agreed,  our  stakes  being  nil,  to  cheat  our 
darndest ;  and  from  that  time  forth  to  see  how  right  and 
left  bowers,  aces,  and  kings,  used  to  be  turned  up  in  that 
peaceful,  sequestered  valley,  was  something  awful,  and  that 
often  to  the  tune  of  the  "  Old  Hundred." 

During  the  rutting  season  terrific  combats  take  place  be- 


I 


WAPJTTI  ANTLERH. 


105 


1^ 


tween  the  claimants  for  the  favor  of  the  fair  ones  ;  and  tliese 
battles  royal  are  fought  with  such  vim  and  determination 
that  they  not  unfrequently  result  in  the  death  of  one  or 
both  of  the  belligerents.  Again,  the  antlers  of  the  contest- 
ants occasionally  get  locked  together,  so  that  the  owners 
find  it  impossible  to  disengage  themselves,  when  death 
overtakes  them  in  the  appalling  form  of  starvation.  I  was 
once  shown  two  grand  heads  of  Wapitti  horns  at  Pembena, 
which  had  been  picked  up  on  a  tributary  of  the  Upper 
Missouri,  that  had  become  so  interlaced  that  no  effort  could 
disengage  them  in  their  entirety. 

The  fawns  are  produced  late  in  spring,  and  at  two  years 
of  age  the  young  bucks  exhibit  knobs,  which  in  six  years 
become  full  heads ;  however,  with  further  years  the  horns 
continue  to  spread  and  increase  in  weight,  the  very  old 
males  exhibiting  at  the  top  fork  a  very  obvious  palmation. 
Mr.  Hays,  a  New  York  animal  artist  of  great  repute, 
showed  me  a  pair  of  Wapitti  antlers  which  he  had  picked 
up  in  a  valley  of  the  Rocky  Mountains ;  they  were  larger 
than  any  I  had  previously  seen,  although  I  have  killed  a 
very  great  number  of  specimens.  If  memory  serves  me 
correctly,  they  possessed  fifteen  points,  and  weighed  fifty- 
two  pounds.  -What  a  splendid  stag  their  owner  must  ha^'e 
been  !  And  the  trouble  and  expense  of  a  voyage  across  the 
Atlantic,  with  the  additional  fatigue  of  the  land  journey  to 
the  hunting-grounds  of  the  red  men,  would  not  be  thrown 
away  if  the  sportsman  was  certain  to  be  rewarded  by  the 
capture  of  such  a  quarry. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

VIRGINIAN    DEER. 

This  beautiful  animal,  in  size,  shape,  and  coloring  so  near- 
ly resembles  the  fallow  deer  of  English  demesnes,  that  the 
one  might  be  taken  for  the  other,  if  it  were  not  for  the  char- 
acteristic formation  of  the  horns  in  each,  the  former  hav- 
ing the  tines  pointed  forward  almost  in  a  perpendicular  line 
above  the  eye,  while  the  antlers  of  the  latter  are  palmated. 

Its  range  is  most  extensive ;  being  from  Canada  West  to 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  from  the  Atlantic  sea- board  to 
New  Mexico,  north  of  which  a  different  variety  takes  its 
place,  viz.,  the  black-tailed  deer.  Although  the  Virginian 
deer  of  late  years  has  greatly  decreased  in  numbers,  still 
they  are  to  be  found  in  tolerable  abundance  in  portions  of 
the  country  within  easy  access  of  several  of  the  largest 
cities :  for  instance,  in  the  John  Brown's  tract,  in  Eastern 
New  York;  in  the  country  north  and  west  of  Ottawa,  in 
Upper  Canada ;  and  in  the  Alleghany  Mountains  ;  but,  as  a 
rule,  in  such  situations  they  are  very  wild  and  difficult  of 
access,  as  they  are  incessantly  harassed  by  every  visitor  or 
resident  who  owns  or  can  borrow  a  gun.  However,  good 
sport  with  them  can  be  obtained  in  many  of  the  Southern 
and  Western  States,  more  especially  in  Texas,  and  in  the 
country  traversed  by  the  upper  waters  of  the  Brazos,  Red, 
and  Canadian  rivers.  If  driven  into  open  country,  they  are 
easily  overtaken  and  pulled  down  by  a  strong  greyhound. 
Shot  or  ball  are  indifferently  used  in  their  pursuit,  choice 
in  your  projectiles  being  guided  by  whether  the  nature  of 
the  country  is  open  or  wooded. 


.     a 


I,,  1 1-, 


em. 


\ 


CITAPTKR  VIT. 

VIRGINIAN    DEER. 

'  ioautiful animal^  in  ,....:.  oi».ij)e,  and  colorinsf  so  luai- 
\j  ...^.nbles  the  fallow  deer  oi'  English  clomesnes,  IhaWtbo 
one  might  be  taken  for  the  other,  if  it  were  not  for  the  char- 
acteristic formation  of  the  horns  in  each,  the  former  liav- 
ing  the  tines  pointed  forward  almost  in  a  pervrr.^^^  r^l-ir  Hmo 

ahovc  the  eye,  vv^'lf  thi'  acitl'T«;  of  fho  Infin'  .   .  .. 

'•.•iJTYC:  is  ii;  ,  Wrr.t  to 


■I  whit 
^  vi/,,  the  biftck-tailed  d,{  ev.- 


.igti    tli<; 


ui:.i.::  its 
Virginian 


<]eer  of  late  years  has  greatly  decreased  in  numbers,  still 
they  are  to  be  found  in  tolerable  abundunoi        ^    i  ol 

the  country  within   easy  access   of  several  of  the  largest 
cities:  for  instance,  in  the  John  Brown's  tract,  in  Er-^tern 
New  York;  in  the  country  north  tind  wef- 
ITpper  Canada  ;  and  in  the  Alleghany  Mtnir. 
ruie,  in  such  situations  thov  are  very  wild  tflicult  of 

access,  an  they  are  ■  vi;sitor  or 

resident  wiu-  -'.vn^  v  v.i.  ,:..     However,  good 

sport  with  them  e.  n  many  of  the  (Southern 

and  Western  States,  more  e.<;rocially  in  Texas,  and  in  the 
'country  traversed  by  the  upper  waters  of  the  Brazos,  Red, 
nadian  rivers.     If  driven  into  open  country,  thoy  are" 
Uy  overtaken  and  pulled  down  by  a  strong  crrcy hound. 

r  ball  are  indifferently  used  in  their  pursuit,  choice 

.    '     I  lies  being  guided  by  whether  the  nature  of 
t Ik         •  pen  or  wooded. 


# 


VIRGINIAN  DUKR. 


rREPARTNU  FOR  A  DEER-HUNT. 


109' 


The  following  experiences  in  its  pursuit  will  give  an  idea 
of  its  habits,  and  the  localities  where  the  sportsman  may 
find  them.  Near  Vincennes,  Indiana,  I  once  knew  a  man 
who  was  pretty  nearly  master  of  the  art  of  deer-stalking,  and 
he  could  as  well  discriminate  a  good  day  for  this  purpose 
from  an  indifferent  one  as  he  could  a  thorough-bred  from  a 
mustang.  "  No  use  going  out  to-day,  Cap,"  he  would  say, 
in  answer  to  an  inquiry ;  "  the  woodpeckers  have  got  their 
heads  up,  and  the  deer  are  lying :  best  stop  at  home ;"  and 
best  it  always  was. 

Tt  was  in  the  mouth  of  December  or  January,  I  can  not 
precisely  state  which ;  but  on  rising  from  my  bed,  to  my 
surprise  I  found  the  ground  covered  with  a  few  inches  of 
snow,  just  sufficient,  and  none  to  spare,  to  track  a  deer  with 
a  degree  of  certainty.  Now,  I  was  hungry  for  venison,  and 
such  a  chance  was  not  to  be  jet  slip.  From  a  very  bad 
habit,  which  is  unaccountable  among  many  when  they  go 
from  homo,  I  had  a  morning  cocktail  brewed,  and  with  a 
glass  in  each  hand  sought  the  dormitory  of  my  friend,  and 
over  this  beverage  we  discussed  the  prospects  and  our  plan 
of  campaign. 

The  horses  were  ordered  to  be  in  readiness  after  break- 
fast; buck-shot  and  bullets  were  hunted  out,  shooting- 
boots  greased,  and  tobacco  and  pocket-pistols  loaded  to  the 
neck  and  stuffed  in  our  saddle-bags.  A  hard  day  we  knew 
to  be  before  us,  so  ample  justice  was  done  to  our  meal; 
for,  sportsmen,  rely  upon  what  I  say,  nothing  so  material- 
ly assists  you  to  withstand  fatigue  and  cold  as  an  ample 
breakfast. 

A  ride  of  about  five  miles  took  us  to  our  ground ;  but  as 
our  horses  were  fresh,  and  we  impatient  to  be  at  work,  the 
distance  was  soon  traversed,  and  we  dismounted  in  a  grove 
of  saplings,  well  suited  to  hitch  our  nags  to  and  shelter  them 
from  the  wintrv  blast. 


110 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


While  we  are  performing  the  necessary  operation  of 
loading,  a  description  of  our  armament  will  not  be  inappro- 
priate. Will  (as  I  will  call  liim)  had  an  antiquated,  un- 
couth rifle,  with  the  old-fashioned  double  trigger,  the  sec- 
ond to  set  the  hair-spring — an  invention  I  had  seldom  pre- 
viously seen  and  never  used,  which,  although  possessed  of 
no  finish,  could  shoot  "  plumb  centre ;"  while  I  myself  had 
my  trusty  double-barrel  ten-bore,  which,  from  long  experi- 
ence and  association,  I  was  aware  .  had  only  to  be  held 
straight  to  do  correct  work. 

A  large  swamp  about  half  a  mile  off  was  a  favorite  resort 
for  deer,  and  to  it  we  directed  our  steps :  but  before  we 
had  gone  half  the  distance  we  came  across  numerous  tracks, 
so  fresh  that  we  kept  a  sharp  lookout  in  all  directions,  hop- 
ing every  moment  to  be  gratified  with  the  sight  of  some 
antlered  monarch.  Failing  in  this,  we  changed  our  tactics, 
friend  Will  posting  me  on  the  margin  of  a  branch  of  the 
swamp,  with  my  back  against  the  butt  of  a  tree,  with  in- 
structions to  remain  still  and  keep  a  sharp  lookout,  while 
he  would  take  a  detour ^  and  possibly  drive  some  stragglers 
across  the  run  whicli  my  position  commanded.  Slowly, 
after  Will  started,  the  time  passed ;  the  forest  appeared 
perfectly  deserted ;  not  a  squirrel  or  bird  showed  itself  to 
break  the  monotony,  except  an  angry,  squabbling  family  of 
woodpeckers,  who  appeared  to  have  some  serious  disagree- 
ment in  reference  to  the  possession  of  a  hole  in  the  trunk 
of  a  dead  giant  tree.  Wet  feet  are  never  conducive  to 
comfort,  and  much  less  so  when  you  are  prevented  from 
taking  exercise;  besides,  it  was  bitterly  cold.  First  I 
stood  on  one  leg,  then  on  the  other,  after  the  manner  of 
geese,  which  birds  I  began  to  consider  I  much  resembled, 
till  at  last  the  inaction  became  so  unendurable  that  I  was 
very  nearly  taking  up  my  gun  and  starting  in  pursuit  of 
my  supposed  recreant  friend. 


THE  ALARMED  BUCK. 


Ill 


As  I  was  about  to  put  my  resolution  in  practice,  1 
thought  I  heard  a  voice,  and,  on  looking  in  the  direction 
from  whence  it  proceeded,  I  was  surprised  to  see  a  couple 
of  hunters,  with  a  cur  dog,  passing  my  retreat,  about  a  hun- 
dred yards  off.  lie  who  has  shot  much  in  the  timber  well 
knows  that,  if  ho  remains  quiet,  the  possibility  is  great  that 
those  moving  about  may  make  the  game  start  toward  his 
retreat.  And  well  it  was  I  did  so;  for  ere  five  minutes 
had  passed,  a  grand  old  turkey,  head  down,  and  going  like 
a  race-horse,  ran  past;  but  turkey  was  not  deer,  so  I  let  him 
go,  preferring  to  be  without  turkey  to  braving  the  wrath 
of  Will  for  firing  at  illegitimate  game.  How  often  pa- 
tience and  forbearance  receive  their  reward  !  and  so  it  was 
in  this  instance ;  for  scarcely  haci  thn  gobbler  gone  when  a 
tine  large  buck  hove  in  sight.  1-  m  his  manner,  he  was 
evidently  alarmed ;  for  every  no  md  then  he  stopped, 
snorted,  and  continued  his  route.  Unfortunately,  he  was 
heading  so  as  to  pass  farther  off  than  would  afford  a  good 
shot,  and  the  ground  was  too  clear  to  permit  me,  with  any 
prospect  of  success,  to  better  my  position.  I  had  almost 
made  up  my  mind  not  to  shoot.  However,  I  changed  my 
resolution ;  for  so  soon  as  he  came  abreast  of  me,  he  iialted, 
and  looked  around.  The  temptation  I  could  no  longer  with- 
stand ;  so,  pitching  my  gun  with  due  elevation,  I  let  drive 
the  first  barrel,  with  no  apparent  result,  for  the  deer  o'ly 
threw  up  his  head  and  trotted  off.  The  second  charge  I 
quickly  determined  to  put  in ;  and  holding  well  in  front 
and  high,  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  his  lordship  make 
a  tremendous  bound  and  drop  his  tail — a  certain  indication 
that  some  of  the  shot  had  taken  effect  ;*  but  the  distance 
was  so  great  that  successful  results  could  scarcely  be  ex- 
pected. 

Nothing  is  so  difficult  as  to  obtain  a  gun  that  throws 
buck-shot  well.     I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  gun-makers 


wrr 


i  ■     ' 


|i  :' 


112 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


have  not  paid  the  same  amount  of  attention  to  discovering 
the  proper  internal  construction  of  barrels,  so  as  to  obtain 
the  greatest  range  and  closeness  in  throwing  this  descrip- 
tion of  projectile.  Generally,  at  the  distance  of  one  hun- 
dred yards,  the  side  of  a  barn  vould  be  non»_  too  large  a 
target  to  be  certain  of  hitting ;  and  again,  occasionally  a 
barrel  will  make  an  unusually  good  pattern  at  one  dis- 
charge, while  at  the  next  it  will  be  quite  the  reverse ;  so 
that  hittinc:  a  deer  at  a  hundred  vards  I  consider  more  the 
result  of  luck  than  good  guiding,  if  charged  with  buck-shot. 

After  waiting  for  nearly  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  I  was  join- 
ed by  my  friend,  who  at  once  inquired  what  I  had  shot  at ; 
but  when  I  told  him  the  distance,  he  only  laughed  one  of 
those  peculiar,  little  dry  laughs  which,  as  plainly  as  words, 
said, "  You^-e  a  fool  if  you  expect  to  eat  any  of  that  car- 
cass." Nevertheless,  we  together  inc^^)ected  the  track,  and 
I  had  not  even  the  gratification  to  find  blood.  Well,  Will 
was  for  giving  it  up, but  I  wished  to  follow  it  out;  so  after 
using  all  his  powers  of  persuasion  and  argument  in  favor 
of  Km  views,  he  succumbed,  and  consented  for  once  to  be 
dictated  to. 

For  over  a  mile  we  followed  our  game.  The  line  was 
straight,  and  the  track  distinct;  moreover,  the  gait  was 
steady,  if  one  could  judge  from  the  regularity  of  the  im- 
pressions; and  there  was  naught  to  indicate  that  we  might 
not  with  as  great  propriety  follow  any  animal  in  these  bot- 
tom-lands at  which  a  shot  had  never  been  fired.  Will  was 
going  ahead,  leading,  and  your  humble  servant  bringing  up 
the  rear,  when  the  former  suddenly  halted  and  turned  round. 
From  the  expression  of  his  face  I  knew  something  was  up, 
but  was  scarcely  prepared  for  the  information  he  gave. 
"  Look  here,"  said  he ;  "  you  have  hit  that  deer.  Cap,  toler- 
ably badly, and  I  suspect  we  shall  get  him  yet;  his  fore-leg 
is  disabled,  and  he  can't  travel  far  without  our  overhauling 


FOLLOWINO  THE  TRAIL. 


113 


him."  On  inquiring  how  he  gained  his  information,  he 
pointed  to  the  tracks;  and,  sure  enough,  the  off  fore-foot, 
instead  of  making  a  clean  impression,  cut  the  snow  for 
nearly  a  foot  whenever  raised  off  the  ground.  "  You  see," 
said  he,  chuckling,  "  he  don't  use  both  alike,  for  it's  all  he 
can  do  to  get  this  one  up."  There  was  no  gainsaying  such 
conclusive  evidence ;  and  with  renewed  ardor  we  sharpened 
the  pace  of  pursuit,  alternately  changing  places,  one  being 
constantly  on  the  lookout  while  the  other  tracked.  Once 
or  twice  we  got  sight  of  the  deer,  but  too  far  off,  or  for 
too  limited  a  period,  to  shoot ;  but  the  view  was  always 
cheering.  Forward  we  pressed,  exultingly  hoping  that  each 
minute  would  finish  t  ^  hunt ;  but  the  deer  thought  other- 
wise, for  he  was  of  a  most  unaccommodating  disposition. 
Soon  it  became  apparent  that  the  confounded  bmte  was 
raveling  the  same  circle,  and  that,  unless  we  altered  our 
plans,  we  might  be  kept  going  till  dark ;  and  as  we  were 
not  disposed  to  work  harder  than  necessary,  it  was  agreed 
that  I  should  drop  behind  and  take  up  my  stand  in  the 
most  eligible  place,  while  Will  continued  the  pursuit  Avith 
the  hope  of  driving  our  wily  foe  past  my  ambush.  Though 
the  plan  was  well  devised,  it  failed  in  execution;  for,  after 
an  hour's  tedious  delay,  my  companion  rejoined  me,  dis- 
gusted and  dispirited,  heaping  anathemas  upon  the  foe, 
pronouncing  him  to  be  one  of  the  very  foxiest  brutes  he 
had  ever  come  across.  After  all  our  trouble,  it  would  nev- 
er do  thus  to  be  defeated ;  so  I  proposed  doing  the  track- 
ing while  he  took  a  stand,  at  the  same  time  changing  guns 
at  his  request. 

Full  of  hope,  and  animated  with  the  desire  of  distin- 
guishing myself,  I  pushed  forwa'-d  with  renewed  energy. 
At  first  tiie  trail  was  tolerably  clear,  but  after  some  time 
it  led  and  twisted  in  every  direction  through  innumerable 
hog-paths.     Never  was  I  so  sorely  puzzled  to  keep  correct ; 


114 


PBAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


but  with  perseverance  and  care  I  managed  to  carry  the 
track  almost  across  to  clear  ground,  where  I  suddenly  lost 
all  signs,  and  was  completely  brought  to  a  stand-still.  I 
was  aware  that  all  dodges  were  practiced,  more  particular- 
ly when  deer  feel  the  effects  of  increasing  weakness  and 
incapacity  for  further  exertion ;  so,  hoping  that  fortune 
would  favor  me,  I  determined,  like  a  skillful  fox-hunter,  to 
make  a  cast  completely  round  the  disturbed  ground.  After 
the  loss  of  twenty  minutes,  I  fortunately  again  struck  the 
trail,  which,  to  my  surprise,  led  in  a  reverse  direction; 
cleaily  indicating  that  the  deer  had  retraced  his  steps 
probably  in  the  same  track,  and  thus,  by  this  cunning  de- 
vice, almost  succeeded  in  eluding  his  pursuer.  The  trail  of 
the  animal  now  became  more  irregular,  and  the  tell-tale 
track  of  the  wounded  limb  greatly  assisted  me  in  distin- 
guishing his  footsteps  from  those  of  his  fellows,  which  on 
every  opportunity  he  selected ;  but  all  having  failed  to 
throw  me  off  so  far,  the  deer  adopted  a  new  ruse,  which 
under  other  circumstances  would  have  been  eminently 
agreeable  to  the  sportsman,  but  in  this  instance  made  me 
so  savage  that  I  would  have  indulged  in  the  amiable  weak- 
ness of  breaking  the  gun-stock  over  the  nearest  tree,  if  it 
had  not  been  that  my  friend  might  not  see  the  joke  of  his 
rifle  being  thus  treated. 

So  intent  was  I  »vatching  the  tracks,  that  I  did  not  ob- 
serve the  exhausted  deer  had  halted.  Becoming  alarmed 
by  my  near  approach,  and  deeming  it  advisable  to  make 
a  fresh  effort  to  place  distance  between  us,  he  again  put 
forth  renewed  energy.  The  brush,  unfortunately,  was  so 
remarkably  dense,  that  although  I  got  several  glimpses  of 
his  tawny  hide,  still  never  for  sufiicient  length  of  time  to 
get  a  fair  chanc?  to  shoot,  and  I  was  unwillingly  compelled 
to  keep  tracking.  About  fifty  yards  from  where  I  stood,  a 
small  river,  not  over  ninety  feet  across,  named  the  Amba- 


AN  OBSTINATE  TRIQOER. 


116 


ras,  wound  its  sluggish,  peaceful  way  toward  its  parent 
stream,  the  Wabash ;  and  direct  for  the  nearest  part  of 
this  river  the  deer  had  gone.  Still  I  could  not  bring  my- 
self to  believe  that  a  buck  at  this  season,  with  plenty  of  ice 
in  the  water,  would  hazard  an  aquatic  performance;  but 
my  doubts  were  soon  solved ;  for,  on  reaching  the  margin, 
with  surprise  I  saw  the  deer  upon  the  ledge  of  ice  attached 
to  the  bank  struggling  violently  to  keep  his  footing,  the 
disabled  leg,  which  appeared  to  hang  powerless,  evidently 
now  causing  serious  inconvenience  to  his  progress  over  the 
slippery  surface.  Such  an  opportunity  to  finish  my  work 
was  not  to  be  neglected ;  so,  cocking  the  rifle,  I  pitched  it 
forward  and  drew  a  bead,  but  still  no  report  followed.  All 
my  power  and  exertion  could  not  pull  the  trigger.  Again 
and  again  I  looked  at  the  lock,  and  essayed  another  effort, 
but  with  the  same  result.  At  length,  in  despair,  I  desisted ; 
and  the  deer,  hav'ng  altered  his  mind,  came  ashore  and  dis- 
app<2ared  through  the  tangled  brake.  Of  course,  to  exam- 
ine ti:e  gun  and  inform  myself  what  was  wrong  was  my 
first  thought.  My  surprise  may  be  well  iiuagined  when, 
with  all  my  endeavors,  I  could  not  get  the  hammer  down ; 
there  it  would  stand ;  not  a  particle  of  compromise  was 
in  the  confounded  thing.  All  my  skill  in  mechanism  was 
called  into  play,  all  my  past  experience  put  to  use ;  and 
not  until  my  patience  was  nearly  exhausted  did  I  discover 
the  use  of  the  second  trigger.  Discouraged  I  was ;  but 
whether  most  at  my  own  stupidity  or  want  of  luck  I  know 
not.  Still  hoping  for  another  chance,  I  followed  on  in  no 
very  amiable  frame  of  mind. 

Time  fled,  and  the  long  shadows  of  the  trees  told  of  the 
rapid  approach  of  night;  still  not  a  sight  did  I  further  get 
of  the  buck ;  and  to  add  to  my  troubles,  the  tracks  a  sec- 
ond time  led  through  ground  that  hogs  had  lately  fed  over. 
Never  was  I  so  sorely  puzzled.     Backward  and  forward  I 


116 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


aearched,  my  eyes  nearly  strained  to  bursting,  till  at  length 
I  was  compelled  to  give  up  the  chase.  On  looking  round 
to  find  out  as  nearly  as  possible  ray  situation,  the  better 
and  more  directly  to  return  to  ray  horse,  I  espied  a  splen- 
did wild  turkey  busy  feeding  not  over  thirty  yards  off,  and 
still  unaware  of  my  presence.  Sheltering  myself  behind  a 
fallen  log,  I  took  sight  along  my  barrel,  determining  inward- 
ly to  have  some  reward  for  my  labor;  but  although  this 
time  I  worked  the  trigger  correctly,  nothing  but  the  explo- 
sion of  the  cap  took  place ;  in  fact,  the  rifle  had  missed  fire. 
The  turkey,  frightened  at  the  noise,  lowered  his  head,  ran 
about  twenty  yards,  then  stopped,  and  looked  arouiid,  still 
ignorant  of  the  cause  of  his  alarm.  Substituting  a  new  cap 
and  again  taking  sight  was  but  the  work  of  a  few  moments, 
but  still  the  gun  refused  to  explode.  I  now  sprung  my 
ramrod  and  placed  on  the  nipple  another  cap,  but  the  resiilt 
was  as  before;  and  the  turkey  having  become  conscious 
that  he  w\as  in  a  dangerous  neighborhood,  sought  safety  in 
flight.  How  often  a  day's  shooting  is  one  tissue  of  blun- 
ders from  morning  till  night !  and  so  it  was  in  this  case. 
First,  the  game  had  passed  too  far  from  my  stand ;  second- 
ly, changing  guns  had  lost  rae  the  deer ;  and,  thirdly,  the 
carelessness  of  my  friend  in  not  sheltering  his  gun  from  the 
damp  was  the  reason  of  my  not  having  turkey  for  a  future 
day's  dinner. 

Tired,  hungry,  and  bad-tempered,  I  struck  off  direct  for 
ray  horse,  expecting  to  have  little  more  than  a  mile  to  walk ; 
but  with  surprise,  after  having  traveled  that  distance,  I 
found  I  was  turned  round  and  lost.  Already  it  was  sunset ; 
half  an  hour  more  would  make  it  dark,  and  the  bottom-land 
which  1  was  now  wandering  through  was  as  intricate,  dense- 
ly covered  a  swamp  as  ever  was  inhabited  by  wild-cat.  The 
season  of  the  year,  moreover,  was  not  exactly  the  one  to  se- 
lect for  making  your  couch  on  the  surface  of  mother  earth, 


A  REQISTEliED  FOTV: 


117 


and  visions  of  a  good  dinner,  comfortable  fire,  and  dry 
clotiies  floated  before  ipe.  Hark !  what  is  that  —  a  dog 
barking?  And  so  it  was.  Forward  I  puslied  to  the  sound, 
'and,  in  doing  so,  came  across  a  road,  which,  on  inspection, 
I  recognized  as  one  we  had  traversed  in  the  morning.  The 
rest  of  the  programme  for  that  day  was  phiin  sailing.  I 
found  my  pony  where  he  was  left,  my  friend's  horse  being 
gone ;  so,  concluding  Will  had  made  tracks  for  home,  I 
mounted  my  fiery  little  nag,  and  with  a  sufficiently  tight 
rein  to  guard  against  accidents,  rattled  home  almost  at  ra- 
cing pace.  It  was  nearly  two  hours  afterward  that  Will 
turned  up,  wet  and  exhausted — down  upon  his  luck,  and 
deer  in  particular  —  vowing  that  he  would  be  up  witli  the 
sun  in  the  morning,  and  not  return  till  he  could  boast  of 
not  having  been  beaten  by  a  broken-legged  deer  when  there 
was  enough  snow  to  track.  My  defeat  had  similarly  oper- 
ated on  myself,  so  that  we  mutually  agreed  to  devote  the 
morrow,  blow  or  snow,  to  re-establish  our  tarnished  honor. 
The  morning  was  well  suited  for  our  task,  still  and  clear, 
with  just  sufficient  frost  in  the  atmosphere  to  give  zest  to 
traveling.  The  track  was  easily  found,  my  back  track  be- 
ing taken  as  the  guide. 

In  ten  minutes  we  again  had  our  game  afoot,  but  with- 
out getting  a  shot,  the  animal  having  doubled  round  before 
lying  down,  and,  consequently,  rising  behind  us.  The  bed 
where  he  had  passed  the  night  was  soiled  with  blood,  and 
other  indications  were  such  as  to  justify  us  in  hoping  early 
success.  Although  perseverance  is  generally  rewarded,  it 
was  not  so  on  this  occasion.  Hour  after  hour  slipped  by, 
the  game  appeared  to  moderate  its  pace  in  accordance  with 
ours-rjust  keeping  sufficiently  ahead  to  be  out  of  range. 
The  badness  of  the  walking  (for  a  thaw  had  commenced), 
the  continued  disappointment,  and  the  difficulty  of  follow- 
ing through  the   bush,  commenced  to   operate   upon   our 


118 


rUAJItlE  AND  FOREST. 


'<■: 


spirits,  and,  but  that  we  struck  a  more  open  range  of  coun- 
try, where  the  traveling  was  better,  doubtless  we  would 
have  given  up.  However,  being  in  the  vicinity  of  our 
ponies,  we  determined  to  continue  the  pursuit  on  horse- 
back, hoping  to  get  a  view,  in  crossing  some  opening,  where 
we  could  give  the  buck  a  run  of  a  few  minutes,  with  the 
expectation  that  a  sharper  gait  might  break  him  down ; 
but  luck  continued  adverse.  Time  wat,  rapidly  gliding  by, 
a  few  hours  more  would  bring  on  night,  and,  as  far  as  we 
could  see,  the  prospect  of  a  termination  was  as  distant  as 
ever.  Want  of  success  or  fatigue  made  us  careless,  and  as 
we  slowly  wended  our  unthankful  way — first  one  in  front, 
then  the  other,  talking  aloud,  deploring  our  misfcitune,  qed 
paying  but  little  attention  to  the  surroundings,  unsports- 
man-like  on  such  an  occasion — my  pony  (for  I  was  in  front) 
suddenly  shied,  turning  almost  completely  round,  and  at 
the  same  time  brought  me  excessively  near  getting  a  spill. 
And  what  do  you  imagine  was  the  cause  of  this  want  of 
propriety  in  so  experienced  a  steed  ?  Simply  this :  the  deer 
had  lain  down,  and  we  had  almost  ridden  over  him.  To 
wheel  round  and  try  to  bring  my  gun  to  bear  was  the  work 
of  a  few  seconds,  but  all  my  exertions  and  rapidity  of  mo- 
tion were  thrown  away.  The  pony  would  not  stand  still; 
he  had  evidently  been  frightened,  or  perhaps  was  still  in 
ignorance  of  what  caused  the  alarm.  Moreover,  my  ma- 
noeuvring so  directly  intervened  between  my  friend  and 
the  game  that,  for  fear  of  peppering  me,  he  dared  not  fire. 
To  turn  round  and  look  at  one  another,  first  sulkily,  but 
afterward  to  burst  into  a  roar  of  laughter  at  the  absurdity 
of  the  whole  thing,. was  the  result,  each  agreeing  that  the 
buck  had  well  earned  his  safety,  and  that  two  such  awk- 
ward devils  had  no  right  to  a  feast  of  venison  resulting  from 
that  hunt,  and  therefore  we  had  better  acknowledge  that  we 
were  beaten  handsomely,  and  that  by  a  buck  on  three  legs. 


:     i 


I^ISmm 


I 

^^H 

u 

1 

THE  BIO  BUCK. 


119 


On  the  following  occasion  the  results  were  different.  In 
the  autumn  oi  186-,  when  traveling  across  the  Grand 
Prairie,  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  north  of  where 
the  last  episode  occurred,  I  was  caught  in  the  first  snow- 
storm of  the  season.  The  vicinity  was  but  sparsely  settled, 
and  from  the  thickness  of  the  drift  our  charioteer  lost  his 
way,  and  after  getting  mired  times  without  number,  and 
enduring  one  of  the  most  disagreeable  nights  out-of-doors 
it  is  possible  to  imagine,  we  reached  the  village  of  Kent. 
Under  ordinary  circumstances  it  would  have  presented  no 
great  inducements,  but  the  large  wood-fire  that  blazed  in 
the  bar-room  of  the  diminutive  tavern,  after  our  protracted 
night  of  hardship,  possessed  such  attractions,  that  I  de  > 
mined  to  lay  over  for  a  couple  of  days.  The  neighborl:ood 
was  well  stocked  with  game,  I  learned  the  following  e\  en- 
ing,  when  I  presented  myself  among  the  habitues^  who 
commonly  made  this  public-house  their  place  of  rendezvous 
after  the  toils  of  the  day.  No  small  portion  of  the  conver- 
sation \\  as  in  reference  to  a  buck,  who  for  years  had  con- 
stantly been  seen,  yet  none  of  the  heretofore  successful 
hunters  had  been  able  to  circumvent  him.  It  was  evident 
that  this  animal  was  of  no  ordinary  size,  as  he  was  dubbed 
by  all  with  the  sobriquet  of  the  Big  Buck ;  and  one  regular 
old  Leather-stocking,  whose  opinion  was  always  listened  to 
with  the  reverence  due  to  an  authority,  ventured  to  assert 
that  he  believed  the  bullet  would  never  be  moulded  that 
would  tumble  him  (the  buck)  in  his  tracks.  This  extraor- 
dinary deer  had  almost  escaped  my  memory,  and  I  was 
resting  over  my  next  morning's  pipe,  and  beginning  to 
fear  that  my  visit  was  longer  than  necessary,  for  there  was 
absolutely  nothing  to  do  but  to  eat  and  sleep,  unless  the 
prices  of  pork,  corn,  or  wheat  had  possessed  interest,  when 
a  man  from  the  timber  land  arrived  with  a  load  of  wood, 
and  held  the  following  conversation  with  the  mixer  of  mint- 


120 


PliAIlitE  AND  FOREST. 


juleps,  cocktails,  etc.     "Abe,  hav<)  you  e'ei*  a  shooting-ii'on 
that  you  can  loan  this  coon  ?" 

Abe  having  replied  in  the  negative,  and  inquired  the  rea- 
son, was  told  that  the  most  alfiatest  big  buck  had  crossed 
the  road  about  a  mile  ofE,  and  gone  into  the  squire's  corn. 
Quietly  going  to  my  bedroom,  I  unpacked  my  heaviest 
gun,  a  ten-bore,  in  which  I  have  particular  faith,  and  hav- 
ing noted  the  route  that  the  teamster  had  come  by,  I  fol- 
lowed the  back  track  of  his  sled,  and  true  enough  found 
the  prints  of  a  very  heavy  buck.  The  day  was  still  young, 
myself  in  good  walking  trim,  and  with  an  internal  deter- 
mination not  to  be  beaten,  except  night  overtook  me,  and 
very  probably  with  the  hope  to  show  the  neighbors  that  a 
Britisher  was  good  for  some  purposes,  I  followed  the  track 
with  unusually  willing  steps  and  light  heart.  To  get  into 
the  corn-field  the  buck  had  jumped  the  snake-fence,  and 
afterward  doubled  back ;  and  as  the  wind  did  not  suit  for 
me  to  enter  at  the  same  place,  I  made  a  considerable  detour. 
In  my  right  barrel  I  had  sixteen  buck-shot,  about  the  size 
that  would  run  one  hundred  to  the  pound,  and  a  bullet  in 
the  left.  As  the  corn  had  not  yet  been  gathered,  and  the 
undergrowth  of  cuckle-burs  and  other  weeds  was  tolerably 
dense,  I  had  little  doubt  but  that  I  should  get  sufficiently 
close  to  make  use  of  the  former.  An  old  stager  like  my 
quarry,  I  knew  from  experience  would  be  desperately 
sharp,  so  with  the  utmost  caution  I  advanced  up  wind,  eyes 
and  ears  §trained  to  the  utmost  tension.  I  had  only  got 
about  a  fourth  of  the  field  traversed,  when  I  heard  some 
voices  right  to  windward  encouraging  a  dog  to  hold  a  pig. 
The  noise  of  the  men,  dog,  and  porker  I  concluded  would 
start  the  game  off  in  the  reverse  direction,  so  hurriedly  re- 
tracing my  steps,  I  regained  the  fence,  got  over  it,  and 
took  my  stand  at  an  angle  that  stretched  close  to  a  slough 
which   was   densely   covered   with   a   growth   of   various 


ll 


WOUNDING  THE  BIO  BUCK. 


121 


aquatic  weeds  and  bushes.  In  about  five  minutes  after 
gaining  my  position,  T  was  greeted  by  a  sight  of  the  beau- 
ty, who  hopped  the  fence  where  there  was  a  broken  rail, 
and,  gaining  the  opening,  for  a  moment  halted,  then  toss- 
ing up  his  head,  offered  me  a  fair  cross-shot  nearly  eighty 
yards  distant.  Pitching  my  gun  well  in  front,  I  pulled  the 
trigger,  and  well  I  knew  not  fruitlessly,  for  he  gave  a 
short  protracted  jump,  dropped  his  white  tail  close  into  his 
hams,  and  with  an  increased  pace  disappeared  in  the  swamp. 
Unless  the  wound  was  mortal,  or  so  severe  as  to  serious- 
ly incommode  him,  I  was  certain  he  would  not  be  satisfied 
to  remain  in  such  close  propinquity  to  danger,  so,  after 
reloading,  I  made  a  detour  to  find  where  he  had  left  this 
cover  to  seek  one  more  retired.  My  conjecture  was  cor- 
rect, for,  after  traveling  nearly  half  a  mile,  I  found  the  fa- 
miliar tell-tale  track.  The  snow  was  in  pretty  good  order, 
both  for  tracking  and  walking,  and  I  did  not  let  the  grass 
grow  under  my  feet.  As  yet  I  had  seen  no  signs  of  blood, 
which  the  more  thoroughly  impressed  me  that  my  lead  had 
made  more  than  a  skin-wound.  In  about  an  hour's  walk- 
ing, I  found  myself  on  the  edge  of  another  slough,  which  I 
was  hesitating  whether  to  enter  or  go  round,  when  I  espied 
my  friend,  some  way  beyond  range,  going  over  a  neighbor- 
ing swell  of  the  prairie.  Of  course  I  cut  off  the  angle  and 
cast  forward  to  where  the  view  was  obtained,  and  as  I  rose 
the  swell,  in  the  distance  I  saw  my  friend  at  a  stand-still, 
evidently  anxiously  scrutinizing  my  direction.  My  cap  was 
of  a  very  light  color,  so  I  concluded  he  did  not  see  me,  and 
my  supposition  was  again  correct,  for  after  a  few  minutes 
he  relaxed  his  pace,  and  turning  at  right  angles,  walked  into 
a  small  expanse  of  dense  rushes,  interspersed  with  an  occa- 
sional stunted  willow.  In  deer-shooting,  if  you  suppose  an 
animal  severely  wounded,  never  hurry  him ;  if  he  onco  lie 
down,  and  you  give  him  time  to  stiffen,  you  will  not  have 

6 


122 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


half  the  trouble  in  his  ultimate  capture  that  you  would 
have  by  constantly  keeping  him  on  the  move.  So  I  prac- 
ticed in  this  instance ;  carefully  for  ten  or  fifteen  minutes 
I  watched  that  he  did  not  leave  the  cover ;  then,  having 
concluded  that  he  had  laid  down,  I  quietly  lighted  my  pipe, 
and  dawdled  away  an  hour  more.  Deeming  that  I  had 
granted  sufficient  law,  I  renewed  operations  and  pushed 
forward ;  the  track  was  very  irregular  in  length  of  pace 
from  where  he  had  reduced  his  gait  to  a  walk,  and  several 
times,  from  want  of  lifting  his  feet  high  enough,  ho  had 
plowed  the  surface  of  the  snow  with  his  toes.  An  old 
deer-stalker  will  know  these  symptoms ;  a  young  one  may 
without  harm  remember  them.  Having  cautiously  fol- 
lowed the  trail  three  parts  of  the  way  across  the  cover,  and 
almost  commenced  to  think  I  would  have  done  better  by 
waiting  half  an  hour  longer,  the  buck  jumped  up  within 
twenty  yards,  heading  straight  from  me,  when  I  gave  him 
the  contents  a  second  time  of  the  right-hand  barrel  in  the 
back  of  his  head. 

The  distance  was  too  great  to  remove  him  home  that 
day,  so,  cutting  a  branch  off  a  willow,  I  affixed  my  hand- 
kerchief to  it,  and  left  this  banner  waving  to  denote  pos- 
session, also  to  furnish  a  hint  to  the  prairie-wolves  that  they 
had  better  steer  clear.  That  night  at  the  tavern  bar,  in 
the  most  ostentatious  manner,  in  presence  of  the  assembled 
crowd,  I  ordered  a  team  to  be  got  ready  in  the  morning  to 
bring  in  the  Big  Buck ;  old  Leather-stocking,  sotto  voce,  re- 
marking that  I  had  not  been  reared  on  the  right  soil  to  be 
able  to  come  that  game.  However,  next  morning,  when  I 
arrived  with  my  trophy,  the  crowd  congratulated  me,  while 
Leather-stocking  remarked  that  he  knew  not  what  the  world 
was  coming  to,  by  G — d,  when  a  Britisher,  with  a  bird-gun, 
could  kill  the  biggest  buck  in  Illinois.  In  conclusion,  I  would 
say  that  in  skinning  we  found  that  at  the  first  shot  one  grain 


^:f^ 


SNAKE  ISLAND. 


123 


had  gone  through  the  lungs,  while  two  more  had  lodged 
fartlier  back.  The  gross  weight  of  this  deer  was  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty-four  pounds. 

Shooting  deer  driven  to  water  by  hounds  is  a  very  com- 
mon method  adopted  in  autumn  for  their  destruction. 

While  visiting  in  Canada  West,  I  chanced  to  make  the 
acquaintance  of  a  young  Highlander  ardently  devoted  to 
the  chase,  and  who,  when  he  found  that  I  was  also  a  would- 
be  disciple  of  the  chaste  Diana,  at  once  proposed,  as  the- 
season  was  suitable  and  business  affairs  did  not  interfere, 
that  we  should  start  for  the  gigantic  and  then  unbroken 
woods  which  covered  the  township  of  Oro,  lying  on  the 
edge  of  that  placid  sheet  of  water,  so  well  known  for  its 
lovely  woodland  scenery,  Lake  Simcoe.  After  a  long,  te- 
dious walk  over  the  most  villainous  roads  that  ever  unfor- 
tunate was  condemned  to  traverse,  we  arrived  late  at  night 
opposite  Snake  Island,  then  inhabited  by  a  remnant  of  the 
once  numerous  and  powerful  Chippewa  Indians.  The  dis- 
tance across  to  this  island  retreat  was  too  far  for  our  lungs 
to  inform  its  denizens  that  two  benighted  travelers  were 
desirous  of  joining  them,  and,  as  there  was  no  boat,  a  camp- 
fire  and  blanket  were  required  to  do  duty  for  roof  and 
feather-bed.  But,  alas  !  our  limbs  and  bones  were  demoral- 
ized from  our  former  life,  and  absolutely  refused  to  be  sat- 
isfied, so  that  both  tossed,  fumed,  and  fretted  till  the  sun 
thought  proper  to  make  his  re-appearance.  Nor  was  this 
all ;  a  scoundrelly  wolf,  whose  midnight  propensities  for 
serenading  had  taken  hold  of  his  thoughts,  kept  up  a  most 
objectionable  chant,  however  pleasing  it  might  have  been 
to  his  lady-love,  till  we  wished  the  brute  in  Jericho,  or  any 
other  remote  district;  not  only  that,  but  I  will  not  say 
that  fear  had  not  a  little  to  do  with  my  feelings,  for  I  can 
distinctly  remember,  as  I  listened,  nj_,  blood  became  exceed- 
ingly cold  and  stagnant,  my  hands  clammy,  and  my  throat 


124 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


! 


■ 


parched.  Moreover,  all  the  stories  I  had  ever  read  of  the 
sanguinary  propensities  of  these  scourges  of  the  distant  set- 
tlements, from  "Little  lied  Riding  Hood"  to  "Robinson 
Crusoe,"  recurred  vividly  to  my  recollection. 

However,  quiet  came  with  the  sun,  and,  after  a  few  in- 
effectual efforts,  we  succeeded  in  attracting  the  attention 
of  a  worthy  redski  »o,  for  a  trifling  remuneration,  land- 
ed us  in  the  precinctd  of  his  island  domicile.  Our  business 
was  soon  made  known,  and  a  hunting-party  was  organized 
in  an  inexpressibly  short  time.  The  inner  man  was  still  to 
be  satisfied,  and,  on  making  our  wants  known,  we  were 
borne  off  willing  captives  to  the  grandest  and  most  capa- 
cious log-cabin,  no  less  a  worthy  than  a  chief  assuming  the 
responsibility  of  providing  us  with  breakfast.  I  can  not 
help  here  mentioning  a  little  episode  which,  although  it  had 
not  the  appetizing  effect  of  Worcestershire  sauce,  chutney, 
a  squeeze  of  lemon,  '^r  other  familiar  auxiliaries,  still  had 
its  influence  on  ou'  u  pleading  stomachs.  Sun-fish  was 
destined  for  the  stai.  g  dish,  and  as  the  good  old  squaw 
had  a  very  small  frying-pan  and  a  large  stock  of  the  above 
finny  treasures  to  operate  upon,  it  behooved  her  to  make 
several  cookings ;  and,  to  prevent  the  results  of  her  first 
efforts  getting  cold  while  the  second  lot  were  undergoing 
culinary  operations,  the  aged  matron,  with  a  talent  that  de- 
noted great  skill  in  adapting  herself  immediately  to  circum- 
stances, snatched  a  very  battered  and  greasy  straw  hat  off 
the  head  of  one  of  the  filthiest  youngsters,  and  made  it  do 
duty  for  dish-cover.  Of  course,  any  squeamishness  would 
have  been  a  base  return  for  the  anxiety  displayed  that  we 
should  not  eat  our  morning  repast  cold.  An  hour  after- 
ward we  were  all  en  route,  three  buoyant,  graceful  birch- 
barks  transferring  the  party,  which  was  now  augmented  to 
ten,  and  three  half- fed  hounds,  to  the  opposite  beach. 

Well,  all  that  forenoon  to  midday  we  tramped,  tramped, 


! 


PASSENOEH  PIGEONS. 


125 


tramped ;  the  only  alteration  in  the  performance  being  an 
occasional  halt,  when  an  acute  observation  of  some  sign 
would  cause  comments  from  all  parties,  excepting  we  two 
pale-faces.  First,  it  would  be  a  broken  twig;  next,  an  in- 
dentation of  the  ground  ;  and,  thirdly,  what  would  not  have 
appeared  to  the  uninitiated  a  rarity  in^sheep  pastures.  Al- 
though this  was  all  Greek  to  us,  we  determined  to  look 
knowing,  say  nothing,  and  possibly,  like  many  another  un- 
der similar  circumstances,  get  credit  for  being  perfect  Nim- 
rods.  A  halt  was  at  length  called,  and  old  Chief  John,  no 
small-bug,  spoke  like  an  oracle.  The  deer  had  gone  to  the 
big  swamp,  and  if  we  wanted  buck  we  must  go  there.  Off 
again  we  started,  I  having  come  to  the  determination  that 
the  whole  thing  was  a  humbug,  and  that  I  would  slip  off 
the  first  available  opportunity.  The  desired  chance  soon 
offered,  and  after  half  an  hour's  walking  I  struck  the  mar- 
gin of  the  lake  where  the  canoes  had  been  left.  Another  I 
found  before  me  at  this  rendezvous,  which  helped  much  to 
console  me  for  not  being  the  only  deserter.  We  had  not 
long  been  dawdling  and  attempting  to  kill  time,  when  some 
pigeons  came  down  to  drink;  so,  drawing  my  buck-shot, 
and  replacing  it  with  No.  6, 1  came  to  the  conclusion,  as  I 
could  not  have  venison,  I  would  try  and  procure  some  of 
them.  Nor  was  I  unsuccessful,  for  soon  half  a  dozen  long- 
tails  (the  wild  pigeons  of  America  have  long  tails)  swelled 
the  voluminous  proportions  of  my  pockets.  There  is  an 
end  to  all  things,  and  even  pigeons  got  wary  of  our  prox- 
imity, and  a  second  period  of  inaction  followed.  However, 
the  scenery  was  pretty,  the  foliage  brilliant,  the  tempera- 
ture pleasant,  and  a  hunter  might  be  far  less  comfortably 
situated. 

Time  was  passing  rapidly,  the  sun  was  fast  dipping  into 
the  horizon,  and  consequently  our  indefatigable  friends  could 
not  much  longer  be  absent.    Thus  I  thought,  when  Master 


m 


I 

I  1 


'I  i 


11 


%v 


il 


I?    !' 


126 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


Redskin  jumped  suddenly  out  of  a  canoe  in  which  he  had 
been  lolling,  clapped  his  ear  to  the- ground,  exciting  greatly 
my  curiosity,  and  remained  in  that  ludicrous  and  ungrace- 
ful position  for  some  minutes.  On  asking  him  for  an  ex- 
planation, naught  but  a  grunt  could  I  get  for  an  answer. 


PASSKNGEK   riGEONS. 


and  a  non-describablc  wave  of  the  hand,  as  if  to  invoke  si- 
lence. After  mancDuvring  thus,  my  nearly  exhausted  pa- 
tience received  the  explanation  that  one  of  the  hounds  was 
running  a  deer,  and  that  they  were  coming  this  way.  Im- 
mediately afterward  I  was  bundled  into  a  canoe,  and  al- 
though I  had  never  previously  handled  a  paddle,  was  foi'ced 


T 


-!'L 


AN  EXCITING  CHASE. 


127 


to  take  one  of  those  implements  and  attempt  a  trial;  but 
no  use — the  obstinate  composition  of  birch-bark  would  only 
spin  round  and  make  most  indisputable  signs  of  objection 
to  its  freight,  which  were  manifested  by  the  gunwale  sev- 
eral times  taking  in  water,  so  that  my  now  irate  companion 
almost  got  out  of  liis  wits  with  rage.  At  length  I  attained 
a  slight  dexterity,  and  succeeded,  assisted  by  the  skillful 
steering  of  the  Chippewa,  in  propelling  our  frail  boat  un- 
der a  cedar  that  grew  on  the  termination  of  a  promontory. 
Whatever  might  have  been  my  doubts  before  as  to  my 
friend's  assertion  that  game  was  afoot,  they  were  now  dis- 
sipated ;  for,  true  enough,  the  deep  voice  of  a  hound  could 
be  distinctly  heard  resounding  through  the  forest,  and  com- 
ing toward  us ;  every  bound  he  spoke,  till  the  echoes  and 
his  voice  were  blended  in  one  prolonged,  deep,  musical  note. 
My  pulsation  increased  as  the  muFic  approached,  my  whole 
nervous  system  was  in  a  state  of  extreme  tension ;  even 
clasping  my  gun,  setting  my  teeth,  only  gave  me  tempo- 
rary relief,  and  never  from  \,nat  day  to  this  has  my  excite- 
ment been  so  intense.  "  Look  !  look  !"  said  the  Indian,  and, 
following  the  direction  of  his  hand,  I  saw  a  splendid  doe 
breasting  the  water  and  heading  for  the  middle  of  the  lake. 
Like  all  green  hands,  my  first  prompting  was  to  start  in 
pursui*^ ;  but  my  more  wily  friend  put  a  veto  on  that  prop- 
osition, begging  me  to  restrain  my  impatience  till  the  quar- 
ry got  well  out  from  land.  Long — very  long — appeared  the 
next  few  moments.  But  it  was  evident  I  was  not  boss* — 
only  a  deck-hand  of  very  ordinary  acquirements.  Remon- 
strance was,  therefore,  out  of  the  question ;  so  submission, 
with  the  best  possible  grace,,  was  adopted.  By  this  time 
the  doe  had  got  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  mile  out  —  for  few 
animals  swim  so  fast  as  deer — when  the  signal  was  given 


*  American  for  "master." 


i 


128 


riiAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


to  commence  the  cliase.  Never  did  oarsman  more  ener- 
getically pull  —  never  did  race-horse  more  gallantly  strug- 
gle ;  every  thew,  every  muscle  was  brought  into  play,  and 
what  I  lacked  in  skill  was  made  up  in  vim.  It,  however, 
took  all  the  dusky  gentleman's  skill  to  keep  the  craft's  head 
straight.  For  many  minutes  we  did  not  appear  to  havs 
gained  an  inch ;  the  perspiration  ran  down  my  face,  and 
even  lodged  in  my  eyes ;  but  there  was  no  time  for  rest,  no 
desire  for  respite ;  each  succeeding  stroke  equaled  its  pred- 
ecessor in  strength.  At  length  we  commenced  gaining — 
a  further  inducement  to  renewed  exertion — and  the  paddle 
was  dipped  deeper,  and  handled  still  more  swiftly.  Inch 
by  inch  we  crept  up,  at  first  slowly,  then  more  rapidly,  till 
but  twenty  yards  severed  the  victim  and  the  destroyer.  I 
was  about  to  drop  my  paddle  and  seize  my  gun,  when  Mas- 
ter Redskin  informed  me,  "  Not  time  yet !"  On  we  ad- 
vanced ;  ten  feet  at  most  intervened.  Mr.  Chippewa  gave 
the  desired  permission,  and  as  I  pitched  my  gun  to  the 
shoulder  he  veered  the  canoe  a  point  or  two  to  the  right. 
A  sharp  report  followed,  and  the  water  boiled  with  the  in- 
effectual efforts  of  the  stricken  animal.  Quickly  the  birch- 
bark  was  shot  up,  and  just  as  the  deer  was  disappearing  it 
was  grabbed  by  the  ear,  and  after  several  ineffectual  efforts 
lifted  on  board.  Know  you,  reader,  that  a  dead  deer  will 
sink;  and  although  I  remembered  it  not  at  the  time  of 
drawing  the  trigger,  my  double  -  barrel  was  loaded  with 
No.  6,  which  at  that  short  range,  and  pointed  at  the  back 
of  the  head,  almost  instantaneously  destroyed  vitality ;  and, 
however  easy  it  may  be  to  lift  a  heavy  body  into  a  boat, 
it  is  a  different  il:'ng  to  bring  a  dead  deer  into  a  birch 

« 

canoe. 

On  our  way  to  shore  we  picked  up  the  hound,  which 
was  taken  on  board,  and  enjoyed  himself  by  licking  the 
blood  that  trickled  from  the  shot-holes.     Feeling  fatigued 


db 


A  DELIGHTFUL  RETREAT. 


129 


from  my  severe  exertions,  I  halted  for  a  few  moments,  and 
commenced  handling  our  trophy,  when  the  confounded  dog 
flew  at  me,  inflicting  a  most  disagreeable  impression  of  his 
ivories  on  the  palm  of  my  hand — a  habit,  I  believe,  he  had 
with  all,  excepting  his  owner ;  which  peculiarity,  doubtless, 
was  much  approved  of  by  him,  but  was  far  from  raising 
this  canine  in  my  estimation. 

Close  to  Lake  Champla'in,  in  the  State  of  New  York,  is 
situated  an  immense  range  of  wild  land,  called  the  Adiron- 
dacks ;  here  Virginian  deer  are  still  numerous.  The  excel- 
lence of  the  fishing  to  be  obtained  there,  also  the  beauty  of 
ficenery,  makes  it  one  of  the  most  delightful  retreats  for 
cither  sportsmen  or  lovers  of  nature. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE  PRONG-HORNED  ANTELOPE. 

Feom  the  Mississippi  River  tp  the  Pacific  Ocean,  and 
from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  to  about  the  fiftieth  degree  of 
north  latitude,  this  beautiful  animal  at  one  time  ranged. 
Now,  however,  from  the  same  causes  as  have  restricted  the 
habitats  of  other  large  American  game,  the  prong-horned 
antelope  will  only  be  found  on  the  great  prairies  that  lay 
on  the  eastern  margin  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  in  the 
vast  plains  of  Sonora  and  North-western  Mexico ;  for,  from 
their  wonderful  fleetness  and  extreme  watchfulness,  horses 
and  hounds  are  useless  in  their  pursuit.  Frequently,  how- 
ever, they  are  brought  within  range  of  the  sportsman  by 
waving  a  colored  hiiudkerchief  or  other  unknown  object. 
This  must  always  be  done  down  wind,  care  at  the  same 
time  being  taken  to  conceal  every  part  of  the  person.  I 
can  imagine  no  weapon  better  suited  for  killing  this  game 
than  the  new  express  rifle.  In  no  description  of  field-sports 
that  I  know  of  will  the  skill  of  the  stalker  be  better  tried 
than  in  pursuit  of  this  handsome  indigenous  game ;  and  if 
your  shot  should  be  a  running  one,  and  you  do  your  work 
in  a  clean  and  workman-like  manner,  you  will  deserve  all 
praise,  for  you  have  caused  to  bite  the  dust  the  swiftest,  in 
my  belief,  of  all  quadrupeds ;  in  fact,  their  speed  is  such 
that  the  eye  can  scarcely  follow  the  action  of  their  limbs. 
.  Yet  their  gait  is  not  low  and  close  to  the  ground,  but  a 
succession  of  rather  lofty  bounds,  and  p&rformed  with  such 
surprising  ease,  that  it  causes  the  beholder  to  wonder  how 
the  frame  of  any  creature  can  sustain  uninjured  such  a  tre- 
mendous strain. 


^J2S, 


WIBi:  AWAKE. 


131 


The  prong -horned  antelope  is  the  only  species  of  the 
genus,  and  is  about  the  size  of  Cervus  Virginianus^  both 
graceful  and  elegant  in  form  and  action.  Well  may  the 
Americans  be  proud  of  possessing  the  only  representative 
of  the  race ;  for  when  the  antelope  is  seen  on  the  boundless 
prairies  of  the  Far  West,  untrammeled  by  limit,  free  to  go 
and  return  as  they  choose,  the  impressions  caused  will  nev- 
er be  effaced,  nor  a  better  representation  of  perfect  inde- 
pendence and  freedom  beheld. 

In  referring  to  ray  diary,  I  find  the  following  narrative 
of  a  day's  shooting : 

"  Cap,  are  you  asleep  ?"  Such  was  the  welcome  sound 
that  informed  me  that  some  one  else  "was  awake  besides 
myself.  Such  a  night  I  do  not  think  I  had  ever  previous- 
ly passed,  and  trust  shall  never  have  to  again.  To  ask  a 
man  nurtured  in  a  Christian  land  whether  lie  was  asleep ! 
— the  thing  is  perfectly  preposterous :  a  gale  of  wind  blow- 
ing the  entire  night,  with  drops  of  rain  as  large  and  so  nu- 
merous that  a  brick  wall  would  scarcely  have  repelled  them, 
let  alone  a  flimsy  break-wind  composed  of  green  boughs, 
yet  these  Western  companions  of  mine  slept.  Half  a  doz- 
en times  I  determined  to  rout  them  out,  and  as  often  gave 
up  the  idea:  for  one  was  quarrelsome  whenever  his  rest 
was  disturbed ;  the  other  had  a  disagreeable  way  of  telling 
the  most  doleful  stories,  and  keeping  the  listeners  in  a  con- 
stant state  of  excitement,  for  in  eery  shadow,  every  move- 
ment of  the  horses,  every  unusual  sound,  he  professed  to 
see  an  indication  that  a  whole  tribe  of  Indians,  f  uUv  decked 
with  war-paint,  and  thirsting  for  scalps,  were  about  to  make 
an  onslaught  on  our  defenseless  bivouac.  Further,  I  must 
inform  my  readers  that  Cap  is  an  abbreviation  of  captain, 
used  over  the  Western  portion  of  the  United  States  for  every 
man  who  has  borne  arms,  whether  in  the  militia  or  regulars ; 
whether  he  has  been  a  full  private  or  only  a  camp-follower. 


s 

1 
1 


Id 


I 


132 


PBAIZcIE  AND  FOliEST. 


Yes,  I  was  awake,  as  wide  awake  as  a  pool  of  water  un- 
der each  arm,  each  knee,  and  every  protuberant  portion 
of  the  figure,  could  make  me.  With  an  anathema  against 
weather,  country,  and  outdoor  life,  I  sprang  up,  and  will- 
ingly busied  myself  in  raking  together  the  fragments  of 
what  had  been  a  fire ;  long  and  tedious  were  the  efforts  to 
coax  a  blaze,  but  at  length  the  reward  of  patience  was  vouch- 
safed, and,  in  spite  of  the  almost  insurmountable  obstacles, 
a  sufficient  heat  was  obtained  by  which  to  cook  the  debris 
of  last  night's  supper,  the  sole  remnants  of  provisions  the 
larder  could  boast  of. 

At  the  time  to  which  I  allude  we  were  on  a  branch  or 
small  fork  that  flowed  from  the  south  into  the  Pawnee  Riv- 
er. I  and  my  companions  had  come  from  the  westward, 
and  had  experienced  as  hard  a  time  as  it  is  possible  to  con- 
ceive; we  had  been  about  two  weeks  together,  and  although 
I  am  doubtful  of  the  propriety  of  picking  up  strange  ac- 
quaintances when  beyond  civilization,  those  squeamish  ideas 
never  enter  the  heads  of  Western  habitues;  a  white  man 
is  always  a  friend  until  he  proves  himself  to  be  otherwise, 
and  then  it  is  your  own  lookout  that  he  does  not  get  the 
upper  hand.  Wild  life  makes  you  wonderfully  wide  awake, 
and  although  an  apparent  bonhomie  may  lay  on  the  sur- 
face, a  constant  guarded  craition  should  never  be  neglected. 
My  new  pals,  however,  were  really  good  fellows,  a  little  ec- 
centric, for  each  was  in  the  habit  of  picking  his  teeth  with 
his  bowie-knife ;  but  they  were  honest,  plucky,  and  endur- 
ing, ready  to  face  whatever  emergency  occurred,  and  pret- 
ty certain  to  get  out  of  it  if  a  bold  hand  and  quick  eye 
could  be  of  avail.  Breakfast !  what  a  misnomer  for  a  few 
mouthfuls  of  half  -  charred,  half -cooked  pieces  of  tough 
venison  !  what  a  contrast  with  one  of  our  home  hunting- 
feeds  that  bear  the  same  sobriquet;  still  I  doubt  much 
whether  pates  de  fois  gras,  game- pies,  and  spiced  round 


'BROOMSTICK: 


133 


of  beef,  were  ever  relished  with  more  gusto  than  was  that 
meal. 

After  the  viands  had  disappeared,  over  the  consoling, 
soothing  pipe,  our  course  for  the  day  was  discussed,  and, 
as  the  rain  had  ceased  and  clouds  lifted,  giving  every  pros- 
pect of  fine  weather,  it  was  decided  that  we  should  remain 
anather  night  where  we  were,  and  in  the  mean  time  each 
start  in  different  directions  to  seek  for  a  supply  of  game, 
to  prevent  our  going  supperless  to  rest,  and  resuming  our 
journey  on  the  morrow  with  empty  stomachs. 

I  had  a  horse.  From  his  wonderful  formation  and  in- 
tense ugliness,  I  dubbed  him  "  Broomstick ;"  he  was  truly 
a  doleful  beast  to  look  at ;  no  amount  of  food  seemed  to  do 
him  any  good ;  he  always  looked  in  the  last  stage  of  con- 
sumption, although  his  capacity  of  stowage  of  forage  was 
immense ;  nor  did  he  ever  lose  a  chance  to  get  a  cow-kick 
at  the  unwary,  or  make  his  teeth  meet  in  the  flesh  of  the 
too  confiding.  Broomstick,  from  having  lately  had  an  eas- 
ier time  than  my  other  mount,  was  selected  for  the  day's 
work,  and  with  expressions  of  grief  that  would  break  the 
heart  of  the  most  obdurate,  he  submitted  to  be  saddled,  I 
returning  every  few  minutes  to  take  an  extra  pull  upon  the 
girths,  for  the  villain  would  expand  himself  on  such  occa- 
sions like  a  pouter-pigeon,  so  that  when  you  imagined  you 
had  got  safely  seated,  and  ready  to  start,  by  a  succession 
of  the  most  mulish  and  awkward  buck-jumps,  the  saddle 
would  get  forward  beyond  where  his  withers  ought  to  have 
been,  and  naught  but  wonderful  skill  in  the  laws  of  equita- 
tion or  fortune  would  prevent  the  rider  from  kissing  moth- 
er earth.  Now  Broomstick  could  go,  if  you  knew  how  to 
take  it  out  of  him,  and  that  was  accomplished  by  com- 
mencing with  a  high  hand  from  the  start,  and  giving  him 
"the  brumagems"  every  pace  or  two,  and  twice  as  often  if 
you  felt  his  back  getting  up  (which  he  used  to  roach  after 


li 


134 


PRAIlilE  AND  FOREST. 


\i 


the  manner  of  a  half-starved  sow),  or  at  any  attempt  to  put 
his  head  down. 

After  a  few  ineffectual  efforts  which  my  steed  made, 
showing  an  inclination  to  differ  from  me  in  opinion,  we 
jogged  on  comfortably  for  several  miles  along  the  edge  of 
prairie  and  timber,  the  usual  markings  of  water  -  courses. 
The  sun  was  near  midday,  and  still  no  game  was  to  be 
seen.  In  quiet,  retired  situations  like  this,  such  is  an  un- 
hciilihy  sign;  for  game  is  not  in  the  habit  of  leaving  a 
favorite  feeding -ground  without  reason.  Discouraged  at 
want  of  success,  I  dismounted,  fastening  up  Bucephalus, 
and  took  my  pipe  again  into  confidence.  On  an  old  rotten 
limb  of  a  partially  decayed  button-wood  a  family  of  red- 
headed woodpeckers  were  busily  at  work,  making  the 
woods  echo  with  the  violence  of  their  tapping.  Watching 
the  sprightly  movements  of  these  active  little  beauties,  I 
became  totally  absorbed  in  their  energetic  pursuits,  when  a 
half-snort  and  uneasy  movement  on  the  part  of  my  horse 
caused  me  to  look  round  ;  and  well  I  did  so,  for  about  forty 
yards  off,  leisurely  feeding,  were  about  thirty  full-grown 
wild  turkeys.  My  smooth-bore  had  ball  in  each  barrel,  but 
as  I  had  two  or  three  loads  of  buck-shot  in  my  pouch,  I 
determined  to  substitute  it.  To  the  shelter  of  a  log,  like  a 
snake,  I  glided,  to  perform  the  change  of  missiles,  and  was 
about  to  draw  the  last  fragment  of  myself  out  of  sight, 
when  the  confounded  warning  of  a  rattlesnake  sounded  so 
close,  that  I  involuntarily  gave  a  jump  to  avoid  the  threat- 
ening danger,  thus  exposing  myself  to  the  turkeys,  who  took 
wing,  without  affording  me  a  chance  of  a  shot ;  so  turkey- 
less  I  was  compelled  to  remain ;  but  you  may  bet  that  snake 
never  scared  any  one  afterward.  He  was  one  of  the  largest 
and  most  venomous  of  his  family,  being  quite  five  feet  long, 
as  yellow  as  gold  along  the  abdomen,  and  possessed  of  six- 
teen rattles.     He  belonged  to  the  variety  which  generally 


DROVES  OF  ANTELOPES. 


135 


>oes  by  the  name  of  timber-snake,  much  larger  and  totally 
different  in  color  from  the  prairie  i*attlesnake,  or  raassa- 
sauga,  which  is  always  black,  and  never  exceeds  eighteen  or 
twenty  inches  in  length. 

Having  found  no  game  in  the  timber,  I  struck  out  for  the 
open  land,  and,  riding  several  miles,  I  saw  two  small  droves 
of  antelopes.  This  beautiful  animal  is  very  difficult  to 
stalk ;  but  as  there  ajjpeared  to  be  no  other  means  of  get- 
ting on  intimate  terms  with  them,  I  hobbled  my  horse,  and 
taking  advantage  of  all  intervening  obstacles,  managed  un- 
seen to  get  within  five  hundred  yards.  Farther  approach 
now  looked  impossible,  and  I  had  almost  relinquished  the 
idea,  when  it  struck  me  that,  by  making  a  slight  detour  to 
leeward,  I  could  find  shelter  from  a  dip  that  appeared  to 
lead  in  the  direction  of  the  game.  On  hands  and  knees, 
slowly  I  crossed  the  open,  my  stomach  almost  on  the  ground. 
The  antelopes  still  continued  feeding ;  so  far  they  had  not 
been  alarmed.  Twenty  yards  more  would  again  place  me 
under  cover.  He  who  wishes  successfully  to  stalk  game 
must  never  deem  precaution  thrown  away.  On  the  care 
with  which  you  pass  over  an  open  space  depends  often  the 
success  of  your  labor.  With  a  feeling  of  gratification  I  re- 
gained shelter,  and  such  shelter  as  I  was  able  to  take  the 
twists  and  knots  out  of  my  legs  and  arms  with  the  con- 
sciousness that  I  could  do  so  without  imperiling  success. 
A.  few  moments'  inspection  of  the  game  sufficed.  With 
renewed  care,  slowly  but  steadily,  I  made  for  the  shelter  of 
an  unusually  high  prairie-dog's  earth.  From  the  back  of 
it  I  would  be  within  eighty  or  a  hundred  yards  of  my  prey. 
The  antelopes,  perfectly  ignorant  of  my  presence,  were 
quietly  feeding,  while  occasionally  one  or  two  of  the  young- 
sters, like  kids,  would  shake  their  heads  at  each  other,  rear 
up,  or  stamp  with  their  feet,  and  make  other  grotesque 
threatenings  of  attack.     The  prospect  of  venison  was  now 


»E    ' 


mmm 


t 

4. 


136 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


in  tho  ascendant.  I  commenced  to  believe  my  eggs  near 
enough  hatched  to  count  them  chickens,  when  a  confounded 
prairie-dog,  who  doubtless  had  been  watching  all  my  strat- 
egy, uttered  his  shrill,  quick  whistle,  and  took  a  header  into 
his  burrow.  This  was  enough ;  the  antelopes  simultane- 
ously closed  into  a  bunch,  and  with  every  sense  strained, 
looked  eagerly  around  for  the  cause  of  alarm.  A  closer 
stalk  was  impossible — the  movement  of  a  mouse  could  not 
escape  their  notice ;  so,  springing  on  one  knee,  I  pulled  both 
triggers  almost  simultaneously,  taking  sight  for  the  near- 
est of  the  ruck.  As  the  smoke  lifted,  with  satisfaction  I  be- 
held two  victims,  one  apparently  dead,  the  other  making  vio- 
lent efforts  to  get  upon  his  pins,  while  the  remainder  of  the 
drove  were  scampering  across  the  prairie  at  such  a  pace  as 
these  animals  only  are  capable  of  going.  As  quickly  as 
possible  I  reloaded  :ry  gun,  and  on  advancing  to  bleed  my 
victims,  the  wounded  buck  got  his  legs  under  him,  and  had 
I  not  given  him  the  right  barrel — a  nice  clean  shot  at  fift^ 
yards  tumbling  him  all  of  a  heap — I  should  have  been  left 
with  only  a  single  prize. 

After  bleeding  my  trophies,  I  went  after  Broomstick, 
who,  like  all  perverse  beasts,  had  grazed  off  at  as  rapid  a 
pace  as  possible,  in  exactly  the  reverse  direction  to  that 
wanted.  Oh,  Broomstick,  you  provoking  brute  !  was  ever 
an  unfortunate  sportsman  so  tortured  by  having  to  endure 
the  vagaries  of  so  ugly  and  obstinate  a  steed  ?  Venting 
my  indignation  on  his  sparsely -covered  ribs,  and  giving 
him  every  second  stride  a  reminder  that  his  owner  was  on 
his  back,  I  hurried  back  to  my  quarry,  in  the  hope  of  mak- 
ing camp  at  an  early  hour,  and  having  a  good  fire  before 
my  comrades  returned.  Nor  was  I  too  soon,  for  already  a 
coyote  had  scented  blood,  and  was  about  to  whet  his  sharp 
tusks  on  the  results  of  my  labor.  With  considerable  hoist- 
ing, and  not  until  I  had  blindfolded  my  mount,  I  got  both 


SHOOTINO  ANTELOPES. 


137 


antelopes  on  my  nag's  back,  where  I  lashed  them  fast  with 
the  lariat  to  the  cantle  of  the  saddle.  Swinging  myself  into 
the  pig-skin,  congratulating  myself  on  the  success  of  my 
stalk,  for  camp  I  headed,  and  already  had  commenced  in  im- 
agination to  enjoy  a  hearty  meal  on  some  of  the  tidbits. 
Humming  possibly  the  old  regimental  march,  and  my 
thoughts  wandering  to  far-off  scenes,  I  was  surprised,  on 
issuing  from  a  dip  in  the  prairie,  to  see  several  antelopes 
feeding  undisturbed  about  a  hundred  and  fifty  yards  off. 
Throwing  my  head  forward  over  the  saddle-tree,  in  a  mo- 
ment I  was  on  my  feet,  and,  hurriedly  hobbling  my  beast, 
I  made  a  cast  to  the  right  to  obtain  a  better  leeward  posi- 
tion. Prairie-dog  earths  were  numerous,  and  apparently 
untenanted,  or  else  the  whole  population  had  turned  in  for 
their  afternoon  siesta.  These  irregularities  of  the  surface 
afforded  an  abundance  of  shelter.  A  few  minutes'  crawl- 
ing, and  I  was  within  easy  range,  when,  springing  to  my 
feet,  the  game  commenced  their  succession  oi  buck-jumps, 
which  they  invariably  practice  before  settling  to  their  reg- 
ular stride.  Pitching  my  gun  to  the  shoulder,  I  drew  sight 
upon  the  leader ;  over  he  went ;  while  my  second  shot,  fired 
too  hurriedly,  sent  its  bullet  harmlessly  ricochetting,  its 
course  being  marked  by  a  puff  of  dust  where  the  missile 
bounded  each  time  it  hit  the  soil.  The  fall  of  the  leader 
turned  the  remainder  of  the  flock,  and  with  the  velocity  of 
falcons  they  rushed  past  Broomstick ;  up  went  his  tail  and 
down  went  his  head ;  half  a  dozen  violent  struggles,  and 
the  hobbling  broke.  For  a  moment  he  stood,  then  threw 
his  mane  recklessly  about,  turned  round  and  gave  his  dead 
load  a  sniff,  and  breaking  into  a  succession  of  buck-jumps, 
finishing  with  a  shower  of  kicks,  divested  himself  of  his 
burden,  and,  in  spite  of  all  I  could  shout,  with  the  most  per- 
fect disregard  for  consequences,  started  for  home  at  a  pace 
so  unusual  and  corky  that  I  vowed  if  ever  I  had  leg  over 


138 


PRAIHIE  AND  FOJiEST. 


I 


him  again  he  should  give  me  a  specimen  of  the  same  gait 
for  my  gratification. 

I  do  not  think  I  over  felt  more  savage  in  my  life.  Two 
or  three  times  I  hesitated  whether  I  would  try  the  effect  of 
a  leaden  messenger  after  him.  If  so  long  a  journey  to  civ- 
ilization had  not  been  before  me,  I  believe  I  should,  but 
finally  concluded  that  cutting  oft"  your  nose  to  spite  your 
face  was  at  the  best  an  unsatisfactory  performance.  After 
spending  half  an  hour  in  dragging  the  game  together,  and 
possibly  as  much  longer  in  ruminating  over  the  awkward- 
ness of  my  position,  and  the  mutability  of  human  and  horse 
affairs,  debating  the  pros  and  cons  whether  to  return  to 
camp  or  remain  where  I  was,  to  my  intense  satisfaction  I 
saw  one  of  my  comrades  coming  toward  me  with  the  now 
submissive  Broomstick  captive,  and  looking  as  if  any  pace 
faster  than  that  of  a  funeral  procession  was  entirely  beyond 
his  powers  of  exertion.  My  fiiend  had  spied  the  truant 
making  straight  for  camp.  After  an  exciting  chase,  he  had 
succeeded  in  capturing  him,  when,  by  taking  the  direction 
from  which  he  was  seen  to  come,  he  happily  tumbled  across 
me,  much  to  my  relief ;  foi',  after  all,  the  little  shelter  afford- 
ed by  timber,  where  you  can  always  have  a  good  fire,  is  in- 
finitely preferable  to  a  smouldering  smudge  of  buffalo-chips, 
with  the  wind  playing  at  hide-and-go-seek  round  your  shirt- 
tails. 

The  followinor  will  orive  the  reader  some  idea  of  the  hard- 
ship  and  danger  to  be  run  by  the  sportsman  who  deter- 
mines on  visiting  the  home  of  the  prong-horned  antelope. 

Circumstances  had  caused  me  to  attach  myself  to  a  trader, 
who,  with  about  twenty  teamsters,  was  en  route  for  North- 
ern Mexico.  My  duties  were  to  hunt  and  supply  the  party 
with  game,  a  pleasant  enough  occupation,  but  not  without 
danger,  for  the  greater  portion  of  the  country  we  traversed 
belonged  to  the  much-dreaded  Comanche,  the  most  reck- 


THE  MARE  AND  THE  MULE. 


139 


I, 
I 


less  race  of  freebooters  and  horsemen  probably  on  the  face 
of  the  earth,  who  are  at  war  with  every  one,  and  prize  noth- 
ing so  much  as  a  white  man's  scalp.  Knowing  such  to  bo 
the  case,  it  behooved  me  to  keep  my  weather-eye  open  when 
separated  from  my  newly-formed  acquaintances ;  but  for  all 
my  watchfulness  I  several  times  had  narrow  escapes.  Still, 
time  fled  pleasantly  onward,  and  as  I  write  this  I  look  back 
with  delight  to  the  happy,  free,  thoughtless  hours  passed 
either  in  the  saddle  or  watching  the  movements  of  the  wild 
animals  that  knew  no  bounds  to  their  demesne.  The  In- 
dians seldom  troubled  my  thoughts,  for  I  had  a  mare  that 
I  daily  rode,  handsome  as  a  picture,  and  as  game,  fleet,  and 
enduring  as  any  animal  I  had  ever  thrown  a  leg  over;  thor- 
ough-bred, I  believe,  and  as  sagacious  as  a  dog ;  also  a  bat 
nmle,  between  both  of  which  existed  a  most  extraordinary 
affection.  I  had  but  to  go  ahead,  and  the  latter  was  certain 
to  follow ;  so  if  I  did  not  fall  into  an  ambuscade,  I  knew 
full  well  I  could  distance  most  Comanche  braves  till  I  re- 
gained camp,  where,  behind  the  wagons,  backed  by  the  stal- 
wart Missourian  teamsters,  who  knew  well  the  use  of  their 
rifles,  I  would  be  safe.  Unfortunately  the  principal  of  the 
expedition  was  a  most  unpleasant  and  unpopular  person,  so 
that  between  his  bullying  and  unpleasant  manner,  a  mutiny 
arose  among  his  retainers,  and  the  consequence  was  that 
the  majority  started  en  masse  on  their  own  hook  to  seek 
another  employer,  or  find  their  way  back  to  their  native 
State. 

My  education  and  antecedents  had  been  such  as  to  give 
me  a  horror  of  mutiny ;  moreover,  up  to  this  date,  I  had 
nothing  to  complain  of,  so  I  determined  to  stick  to  the 
wagons,  and  use  every  effort  in  my  power  to  save  the 
owner  from  the  only  alternative  that  appeared  left,  desert- 
ing his  property  in  the  wilderness.  Ere  long,  however,  I 
was  compelled  to  change  my  resolution,  for  no  one  could 


f    f 


140 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


submit  to  his  irascible  temper  c^nd  constant  insulting  lan- 
guage ;  so,  with  no  companions  but  my  mare  and  mule,  I 
left  the  camp  one  bright  morning  in  the  month  of  February, 
with  the  determination  of  returning  eastward  alone.  The 
step  was  full  of  danger,  but  I  preferred  running  the  risk 
rather  than  remain  to  be  further  insulted,  or  seek  redress 
by  recourse  to  weapons,  too  often  done  in  this  lawless  por- 
tion of  the  world. 

As  the  teams  were  being  hitched  up  I  started  in  the  re- 
verse direction  to  their  route,  little  aware  of  tlie  trying  or- 
deal that  wa^  before  me.  My  animals  were  in  good  condi- 
tion and  spirits.  For  a  week  I  traveled  north-east,  in  the 
hope  of  finding  a  suitable  halting -place  to  remain  in  till 
spring  fairly  commenced.  At  length  I  came  upon  a  spot 
which  took  ray  fancy  —  a  small  table-land,  well  sheltered 
from  the  northern  wind,  underneath  which  was  a  valley 
that  the  snow  had  partially  disappeared  from,  and  where 
there  was  a  fair  quantity  of  bunch-grass,  the  most  desirable 
food  for  the  quadrupeds.  Under  a  projecting  rock  I  made 
my  camp,  for  the  spot  was  so  inclosed  thi  t  1  hoped  the 
lighting  of  a  fire  would  not  attract  attention.  Weeks  roll- 
ed by,  and  the  mare  and  mule  lost  little  of  their  condition, 
although  the  weather  was  frequently  pinching  cold.  The 
caiions  in  the  neighborhood  supplied  me  with  abundance 
of  game,  and  each  day  I  expected  that  a  break  in  the 
weather  would  justify  a  start  for  the  Eastern  settlements. 
Of  course  one  day  was  only  :n  outline  a  repetition  of  the 
other,  but  how  widely  different  in  detail !  In  the  morning 
the  horses  were  taken  to  the  bottom,  breakfast  was  cooked, 
the  enjoyable  pipe  lighted,  and  the  direction  settled  in  which 
I  would  hunt,  returning  earlier  or  later,  according  to  success. 
The  afternoon  would  pass  mending  moccasins  or  clothes, 
cleaning  arms  or  arranging  camp^  procuring  fire-wood,  till 
it  was  time  to  hunt  up  the  nags,  which  being  accomplished. 


1 


niESENTIMENTS  OF  EVIL. 


141 


and  the  evening  meal  dispatched,  on  a  bed  of  leaves  I  would 
smoke  myself  to  sleep,  painting,  till  no  longer  conscious, 
pictures  of  distant  home.  A  hunter's  camp  always  becomes 
::  rendezvous  for  some  wolves,  and  two  of  these  scoundrels 
were  seldom  beyond  sight.  Latterly  they  became  so  tame 
that  they  would  come  close  enough  to  pick  up  a  bone  if 
thrown  to  them ;  and  one  night,  when  the  cold  was  more 
rigorous  than  usual,  on  awaking  to  add  fresh  fuel  to  the 
fire,  I  saw  one  of  them  sitting  beside  the  warm  embers, 
nodding  his  head  like  a  sleepy  listener  to  a  prosy  sermon. 
Every  day  I  expected  to  be  able  to  set  out.  The  appear- 
ance of  the  sky  denoted  change  as  I  turned  in  on  the  last 
evening  of  my  stay  irA  this  remote  corner  of  the  earth,  but 
whether  it  was  anticipation  of  the  good  things  to  be  ob- 
tained when  civilization  had  been  reached,  I  know  not,  or 
an  uftaccountablc  consciousness  that  danger  was  not  far 
distant,  I  could  not  sleep.  First  I  tried  one  side  and  then 
the  other,  but  without  effect.  As  it  was  not  cold,  the  fire 
had  gradually  decayed,  till  only  a  few  embers  remained, 
makinsr  the  surroundini^f  darkness  more  intense.  While  I 
was  hesitating  whether  the  rebuilding  of  the  fire  or  a  fresh 
pipe  would  induce  sleep,  uneasiness  seemed  to  have  taken 
possession  of  my  animals.  The  mule  was  as  watchful  as  a 
dog,  and  as  I  knew  he  would  not  leave  his  friend,  I  invaria- 
bly left  him  untied.  Several  times  he  uttered  that  short, 
quick  snort  so  peculiar  to  the  species,  and  always  indicative 
of  alarm ;  while  the  mare  kept  moving  as  far  as  her  lariat 
rope  would  permit  her.  It  might  be  any  thing,  from  a  deer 
to  an  Indian ;  so,  as  my  arms  were  at  hand,  I  quietly  laid 
hold  of  them,  and  crawled  out  of  my  lair,  taking  special 
caution  that  no  rnomeutary  flicker  from  the  fire  should  dis- 
close my  movements,  and  by  a  short  detour  got  beside  the 
nags,  and  soon  had  the  soft,  silky  muzzle  of  Becky  in  the 
palm  of  my  hand. 


142 


PHAIJilE  AND  FOREST. 


Jii 


I 


The  greatest  disaster  a  man  can  suffer  in  such  a  situation 
is  the  loss  of  either  his  ammunition  or  of  his  horses.  If 
there  were  any  hostile  redskins  in  the  neighborhood,  by  the 
step  I  had  taken  a  stampede  of  my  animals  was  now  im- 
possible. A  few  of  the  longest  hours  I  thus  sat,  my  pres- 
ence re-assuring  the  beasts;  and  when  day  broke,  so  still  had 
all  become,  that  I  doubt  not  I  should  have  been  asleep,  only 
that  the  hour  preceding  day  is  well  known  to  be  invariably 
the  time  selected  by  Indians  to  carry  out  their  machina- 
tions. In  the  morning,  quietly  moving  about  camp,  as  if 
pursuing  unsuspiciously  my  usual  avocations,  I  particularly 
examined  the  locality,  when,  among  the  remaining  scatter- 
ed patches  of  snow,  the  easily-distinguished  moccasin  track 
of  an  Indian  was  discovered,  doubtless  made  by  a  brave, 
who  in  search  for  game  had  got  benighted,  and  chance  had 
caused  to  stumble  across  my  hiding-place.  My  camp  was, 
therefore,  no  longer  safe ;  the  coming  night  he,  with  his 
companions,  would  be  back,  when  woe  betide  the  solitary 
white  man !  My  horses  in  the  morning  I  accompinied  to 
their  feeding-ground,  not  permitting  them  to  get  beyond 
control,  and  as  soon  as  their  appetites  were  sufficiently  sat- 
isfied, I  returned  to  my  little  home  for  the  last  time.  The 
few  trifles  I  possessed  were  soon  packed,  and  nothing  re- 
mained further  to  cause  delay.  Still  I  waited  a  quarter  of 
an  hour  longer,  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  pile  of  wood, 
in  which  I  placed  some  smouldering  embers,  in  the  hope 
that  it  would  not  blaze  up  till  several  hours  after  dark — an 
indication  that  I  doubted  not  the  redskins  would  construe 
into  a  certain  evidence  that  I  was  still  ignorant  of  being 
discovered.  On  arrival,  my  mare  had  been  a  little  tender 
in  front,  from  her  hoofs  having  been  worn  very  close ;  the 
period  of  rest  had  rectified  this,  and,  full  oflfiope  and  an- 
ticipation, I  pushed  my  way  eastward,  the  only  regret  that 
passed,  like  a  cloud  over  my  mind,  occurring  as  I  took  the 
last,  ay,  and  long  look,  at  my  wilderness  home. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

BIG:HORN  AND  ROCKY  MOUNTAIN  SHEEP. 

The  big-horn  and  Rocky  Mountain  sheep  are  to  the  Con- 
tinent of  North  America  what  the  ibex  and  chamois  are  to 
Europe.  However,  there  is  no  great  simihirity  of  appear- 
ance between  these  representatives  of  the  Eastern  and  West- 
ern world,  although  the  differences  are  no  greater  than 
can  be  found  between  races  of  sheep  and  goats.  From 
what  I  have  said,  the  reader  will  be  prepared  to  learn  that 
both  these  interesting  animals  are  inhabitants  of  mountain 
districts,  searching  for  their  food  and  enjoying  their  gam- 
bols upon  the  verge  of  the  precipitous  sierras,  where  mor- 
tals' tread  dare  not  touch,  where  the  slightest  false  step, 
the  slightest  hesitation,  would  hurl  them  down  to  inevita- 
ble destruction. 

The  elevation  of  the  situations  they  select  for  their  rest- 
ing-places is  doubtless  governed  by  temperature :  thus  they 
ascend  to  greater  altitudes  in  summer  than  in  winter;  at 
the  sjime  time,  if  compelled  through  alarm,  they  will  un- 
hesitatingly retire  into  regions  covered  with  perpetual 
snow,  and  nature  seems  to  have  so  well  provided  for  such 
occasions  that  they  appear  to  do  so  without  suffering  in- 
convenience. From  my  own  experience,  I  have  formed  the 
conclusion  that  both  the  above  animals  are  parti.iUy  noc- 
turnal ;  by  this  I  do  not  wish  it  to  be  understood  that  they 
wander  about  when  it  is  impenetrably  dark,  but  that  when 
starlight  or  moonlight  occurs,  they  avail  themselves  of  its 
use  to  descend  from  their  mountain  fastnesses  into  the 
valleys  beneath  in  search  of  favorite  food,  a  performance 


144 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


s      > 


which  they  never  attempt  during  daylight,  except  in  such 
regions  as  their  enemy,  man,  seldom  or  never  intrudes. 

Although  this  game  is  far  from  scarce,  the  traveler 
through  their  habitat  would  imagine  that  such  was  the 
case,  from  the  few  opportunities  offered  of  seeing  them 
alive ;  but  if  attention  be  paid  to  all  that  surrounds  his 


BIG-HOBN. 


path  —  and  who  that  is  a  hunter  does  not  do  so  when  in 
regions  where  danger  ever  besets  him? — he  will  discover 
such  quantities  of  skulls,  horns,  and  bones  that  tell  as  plain- 
ly as  words  can  express,  that  he  is  traversing  the  feeding- 
grounds  of  numerous  invisible  herds.  I  have  occasionally 
been  vouchsafed  a  shot  at  the  big  horn  when  least  expect- 
ed ;  but  so  seldom  has  this  occurred,  that  such  episodes 


mr 


STALKING   THE  BIG-HORN. 


145 


have  become  ingrafted  in  ray  memory.  However,  if  will- 
ing to  bear  fatigue  and  exposure,  the  person  desirous  of 
adding  them  to  the  list  of  game  that  has  fallen  to  his  rifle 
can  easily  do  so  by  following  the  advice  I  am  about  to  give. 
Being  satisfied,  from  tracks  and  other  evidences,  that  they 
frequent  a  neighborhood,  endeavor  to  discover  by  their 
trar'  from  what  portion  of  the  mountain  sides  they  descend 
into  the  valley  to  make  their  nocturnal  foray.  This  is  not 
difficult  to  find  out,  for  this  game  always  travels  in  single 
file,  and  generally  through  the  same  passes ;  their  path  thus 
is  as  easily  distinguishable  as  that  of  sheep  over  heather- 
clad  hills.  Hours  before  break  of  day — for  many  may  be 
the  weary  miles  of  climbing  before  you  make  a  detour  to 
leeward,  so  as  not  to  give  the  quarry  your  wind — push  silent- 
ly for  the  most  elevated  ridges.  H  you  possess  a  keen  eye 
for  locality  and  tracl  ng,  you  will  find  little  trouble  in  dis- 
covering where  the  game  you  seek  most  frequently  resort. 
On  this  point  being  satisfied,  ensconse  yourself  in  some 
sheltered  nook  and  wait  for  day,  for  the  sun  will  have  com- 
menced to  tint  with  gold  the  eastern  sides  of  the  hills  ere 
the  prey  you  seek  will  reach,  from  the  feeding-grounds  be- 
low, the  elevation  of  your  position. 

It  is  strange  these  children  of  the  mountain  only  dread 
danger  from  beneath :  thus  it  is  that  to  successfully  hunt 
them  you  must  ascend  into  the  heights  they  would  fly  for 
if  alarmed ;  to  follow  them  from  beneath  would  simply  bo 
needless  waste  of  time ;  to  stalk  them  from  above  almost 
certain  to  produce  success.  At  length  the  desired-for  time 
is  come :  silently  and  well  secreted,  search  with  keen  eye 
every  ridge  that  will  command  a  view  of  the  valleys  be- 
neath. 

Your  careful  survey  of  the  country  is  at  length  reward- 
ed, for  far  beneath  you,  so  far  off  that  their  outline  it  is 
almost  impossible  to  define,  you  perceive  a  family  party, 

7 


11 


146 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


'3 


^'^"! 


probably  a  buck,  doe,  and  pair  of  kids,  ascending  leisurely 
to  more  elevated  ground. 

Slowly  plucking  the  tender  grass  at  each  step,  they  graze 
upward ;  but  ever  on  guard  against  danger,  the  male  or  fe- 
male pause  to  watch,  or  not  unfrequently  j)Ost  themselves 
on  some  rocky  excrescence  to  note  what  may  be  occuri-ing 
in  the  lower  world.  At  length  their  slow  approach  has 
brought  them  within  range  of  your  rifle ;  but  be  not  impa- 
tient ;  rest  a  little  longer  if  you  wish  to  make  certain  work, 
for  the  bullet  must  l^e  well  and  strongly  placed,  or  else  your 
labor  will  be  fruitless,  for  few  animals  possess  greater  vi- 
tality ;  and  unless,  in  Yankee  parlance,  you  tumble  the  quar- 
ry in  his  track,  the  wounded  game  will  struggle  upward 
with  speed  lent  by  fear,  or  fall  headlong  over  the  nearest 
ravine  into  some  rugged  canon  impossible  to  descend  into, 
or  where,  even  if  successful  in  reaching  its  bottom,  the  car- 
cass would  be  found  pounded  and  torn  into  a  shapeless  mass 
of  flesh,  only  fit  food  for  the  loathsome  vultures  who  proba- 
bly have  already  commenced  to  congregate,  in  expectation 
of  a  feed  on  their  beloved  carrion. 

In  the  days  of  De  Bonneville,  and  Lewis  and  Clark,  big- 
horns and  Rocky  Mountain  sheep  were  very  abundant  in 
the  mountain  ridges  that  encompass  the  upper  waters  of 
the  turbulent  Columbia  River ;  but  the  tide  of  emigration 
which  has  flowed  into  Oregon  and  British  North-western 
possessions  has  had  the  effect  of  lessening  their  numbers, 
and  driving  a  large  proportion  of  the  survivors  from  what 
at  one  time  must  have  been  one  of  their  chief  habitats. 
However,  both  these  species  are  not  likely  soon  to  be- 
come extinct,  for  the  nature  of  the  country  they  inhabit 
is  a  safeguard  which  the  poor  buffalo  unfortunately  does 
not  possess ;  ay,  and  what  will  the  undulating  prairie  be 
to  the  Indian  and  hunter  when  you  deprive  it  of  the 
^ordly  bull,  who  in  times  gone  by  caused  each  tree,  rock, 


MORALIZING, 


147 


and  ravine  to  reverberate  with  his  deep  voice  or  heavy 
tread  ? 

The  time  may  come — I  do  not  wish  to  see  it — when  these 
broad  acres  will  possess  mills  and  factories,  daily  disgorg- 
ing their  inky  smoke  into  the  pure  azure  heavens,  or  their 
thousands  of  unwashed  mortality  over  what  now  is  a  flower- 
studded  prairie. 

Manchester  doubtless  is  charming  to  the  factory  owner, 
for  well  is  he  aware  that  every  throb  of  its  machinery, 
every  grunt  of  its  boilers,  tells  the  constant  tale :  money, 
money,  money.  Possibly,  not  being  a  recipient  of  the  lucre 
these  never-tiring  engines  coin,  I  prefer  the  landscape  when 
free  from  such  evidences  of  man's  industry. 


R2 


I 


CHAPTER  X. 


BEARS. 


Grizzly  (  Ursus  ferox). — The  ambition  of  every  Ameri- 
can sportsman  is  to  shoot  a  grizzly,  and  he  who  has  per- 
f  Tmed  the  task  is  justly  entitled  to  wear  his  spurs,  for  un- 
questionably he  is  one  of  the  most  dangerous  antagonists 
that  man  can  cope  with.  Their  habitat  at  the  present  time 
extends  from  about  the  twenty-fifth  degree  of  north  Inti- 
tude  to  Oregon,  following  along  the  sierras  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains.  At  one  time  they  were  found  eastward  as 
far  as  Kansas  and  Missouri,  but  that  is  many  years  ago. 
Nearly  all  the  accidents  that  have  occurred  while  hunting 
the  grizzly  have  originated  through  the  assailants  being 
armed  with  small-bore  rifles — weapons  almost  as  much  out 
of  place  with  such  an  antagonist  as  they  would  be  in  shoot- 
ing elephants.  The  curl  upon  theifchest,  the  base  of  the 
ear,  and  the  shoulder  rather  far  bw:  and  low  down,  are 
the  most  vital  places  to  aim  at.  If  the  ground  be  suitable 
for  riding,  a  steady  horse  will  be  found  of  great  service  to 
the  hunter,  and  materially  lessen  the  danger  he  would  oth- 
erwise run. 

There  are  very  few — and  thank  goodness  for  it ! — who 
rise  from  their  bed  in  the  morning  as  unrefreshed  as  when 
they  stretched  their  weary  limbs  upon  it  to  crave  for  rest. 
It  waw  exactly  in  this  unenviable  state  I  felt  when  I  pulled 
myself  together  to  turn  out  as  the  sun  was  breaking  on  a 
misty  morning.  Dozed  I  might  have — rested  I  had  not; 
but  day  had  broken,  and  I  felt  thankful;  for,  although 
weary,  thirsting  for   rest,  in   whatever  position  I   lay,  on 


A  FUliEliUJJlNG   OF  MJSFUliTUNE. 


149 


whatever  side  I  reclined,  sleep  obstinately  refused  to  come 
to  uiy  eyelids.  True,  twice  I  had  to  turn  out  of  my  warm 
and  snug  blankets  to  see  what  disturbed  my  mare  and 
mule,  but  this  was  a  nightly  occurrence ;  nevertheless,  a 
load  seemed  settled  upon  my  spirits — in  fact,  I  had  a  fore- 
boding of  misfortune.  But  daylight  at  length  came.  How 
blessed  is  its  appearance  to  the  storm-tossed  mariner,  the 
invalid  on  a  sick-couch,  ay,  and  to  the  wanderer  who  is  far 
beyond  civilization — a  sojourner  in  a  land  where  savage 
brutes  and  doubly  savage  man  surround  him,  craving  for 
the  darkness  of  night  to  accomplish  his  destruction !  At 
the  period  I  speak  of,  I  was  among  the  Black  Hills,  at  that 
time,  although  not  many  years  since,  the  favorite  retreat 
of  the  grizzly  bear,  and  the  freq'ient  lurking-place  of  the 
young  brave,  or  war  party  of  Indians,  craving  for  an  op- 
portunity to  shed  an  enemy's  blood.  To  win  honor  they 
had  left  their  tribe,  and  to  return  with  a  scalp  was  to  reap 
the  reward. 

When  day  became  sufficiently  advanced,  and  the  mists 
that  wrapped  the  valley  in  their  impenetrable  shroud  had 
rolled  up  the  hill-sides,  I  sedulously  searched  around  my 
solitary  bivouac  to  find  if  there  were  grounds  for  my  un- 
easiness. In  gradually  increasing  circles  I  walked  around 
the  camp,  and  until  I  had  gained  the  distance  of  a  hundred 
yards  from  it,  no  impression  on  the  fast-disappearing  snow, 
no  broken  twig,  nor  disturbed  rotten  limb,  indicated  that  I 
was  not  far  from  animal  life.  By  degrees  I  increased  the 
diameter  of  my  circling  search,  and  was  all  but  returning, 
satisfied  that  my  own  excited  imagination  had  been  playing 
me  tricks,  when  I  came  across  the  wide-spread,  deep  im- 
pressions of  an  immense  bear.  Whatever  others  might 
think,  in  such  utter  desolation  and  loneliness,  it  was  pleas- 
ing to  learn  that  Bruin  was  my  foe  instead  of  a  stealthy 
redskin. 


? 


1 1 


;■  ii 


lit 


/fu 


,1^' 

H 


ll 


150 


HiAIHIE  AND  FOMEHT. 


After  turning  my  nags  loose  that  they  might  graze  upon 
the  bunch-grass,  which  was  abundant  in  the  bottom-lands 
beneath  my  encampment,  I  examined  the  stock  of  food  in 
the  larder,  and  found,  as  I  almost  could  have  foretold  if  I 
had  thought  upon  the  matter,  that  it  was  reduced  to  one 
rib  of  venison,  and  that  but  poorly  provided  with  meat. 
Submitting  it  wit)i  hungry  eyes  to  the  smoke  and  ashes,  I 
observed  with  any  thing  but  gratified  look  that  the  eatable 
portion  rapidly  diminished  under  the  effects  of  the  fire. 
When  it  was  sufficiently  cooked  to  become  eatable,  there 
was  not  more  left  than  would  have  satisfied  the  appetite  of 
a  hungry  tabby.  Nevertheless,  I  ate  and  was  thankful,  con- 
soling myself  with  the  hope  that  ere  the  sun  reached  the 
meridian  I  should  shoot  something  sufficiently  substantial 
to  afford  a  good  meal.  But  no  such  fortune  was  in  store 
for  me.  I  tramped  over  fell  and  valley,  through  bush  and 
over  open  valleys,  and  naught  rewarded  my  search  but  in- 
numerable tracks,  so  old  and  stale  that  it  woult  have  been 
madness  to  follow  them  up. 

Weak  from  want  of  food,  and  anxious  to  know  whether 
I  was  doomed  to  die  of  starvation,  I  returned  to  camp  dis- 
satisfied, more  than  angry  with  myself  that  my  love  for 
adventure  and  wandering  had  reduced  me  to  such  straits. 
Of  course  I  could  have  killed  either  my  mare  or  mule ;  but 
no,  I  would  not  slaughter  the  good,  faithful  animals  that 
had  stood  by  me  in  all  adversity,  who  had  before  this  saved 
my  life,  and  now  at  the  present  time  returned  to  me  at  my 
call  with  the  confidence  of  children  in  their  parent.  Fie 
upon  me !  why  should  I  permit  such  a  thought  for  an  in- 
stant to  hover  through  iny  brain  ? 

I  had  got  sufficiently  close  to  my  sleeping -place  to  per- 
ceive the  white  smoke  circling  from  the  gradually  expiring 
fire,  when  again  I  came  across  the  grizzly's  track,  and  so 
fresh  that  I  felt  sure  its  maker  had  been  at  the  camp  dur- 


IN  A  STliAIT. 


151 


ing  my  absence.  In  a  moment  I  came  to  a  resolution  :  the 
intruder  must  pay  the  penalty  of  his  rashnoss,  or  I  perish 
in  the  attempt.  What  would  that  matter  ? — only  one  more 
unknown  to  be  added  to  the  thousands  whose  eyes  liavo 


GUIZZLY   UUAUS. 


closed  in  unknown  lands,  although  their  mothers  pray  un- 
ceasingly for  them,  and  day  by  day  look  for  their  return. 

Reaching   the  camp,  I  found  my  conjectures  had  been 
correct :  the  bear  had  been  there  during  my  absence,  turn- 


152 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


ed  over  tbo  pack,  and  tried  the  flavor  of  botli  flaps  and 
stirrup  leathers  of  my  saddle.  To  obtain  water  to  wash 
luy  gun  out  with,  I  melted  a  quantity  of  snow  in  my  soli- 
tary cooking-dish ;  for  the  foe  I  was  about  to  encounter,  I 
was  well  aware,  would  fight  me  with  tooth  and  claw  till 
death  separated  us,  and  on  a  miss  or  hang-fire  depended 
my  life. 

I  can  not  say  I  liked  my  task.  I  was  not  strong  or  well 
enough  to  court  such  an  encounter,  and  several  times  I 
thought,  as  I  followed  the  tell-tale  impressions  in  the  snow, 
how  much  rather  I  would  prefer  it  to  be  a  deer.  How- 
ever, it  appeared  to  me  to  be  kismet,  destiny,  or  aught  else 
you  choose  to  call  it,  that  I  should  meet  the  grim  giant  of 
the  forest  in  deadlv  strife. 

About  a  mile  and  a  half  from  home — so  camp  is  ever 
called,  however  humble  its  appurtenances  —  I  came  to  a 
place  where  the  grizzly  had  halted  and  scratched  up  the 
wild  cranberries,  which,  through  all  low-lying  lands  in  this 
.portion  of  the  country,  are  abundant;  but  it  was  evident 
that  they  were  not  sufticiently  numerous  or  attractive  to 
detain  him  long.  Again  striking  the  trail,  I  persistently 
followed  it  till  I  reached  some  thick  timber,  much  cov- 
ered with  windfalls.  Through  such  obstacles  progress  is 
naturally  slow,  and  difiiculties  to  your  advance  numerous. 
Moreover,  in  such  a  place  one  has  to  be  doubly  guarded, 
for  on  every  side,  in  front,  in  rear,  the  upturned  roots  or 
labyrinth  of  semi-decayed  limbs  can  be  formed  into  an  am- 
buscade. But  Bruin  was  not  a  rifleman,  and  did  not  avail 
himself  of  these  natural  lurking -places,  so  I  reached  the 
farther  side  of  the  belt  of  timber  without  seeing  a  foe,  for 
which  I  was  heartily  thankful ;  but  as  I  straddled  the  last 
log  which  intervened  between  me  /ind  the  open  land,  not 
twenty  yards  to  my  front  I  perceived  the  object  of  my 
search  reared  up  to  full  length  against  a  dead  tree,  as  if 


ENCOUNTER  WITH  A   VHIZZLY. 


153 


endeavoring  to  ascertain  how  high  he  could  reach.  I  liad 
not  a  clear  sliot,  for,  although  my  quarry  was  facing  nie, 
the  trunk  of  the  deceased  monarch  of  the  woodlands  was 
between  me  and  him.  From  my  foe's  manner,  I  felt  con- 
vinced that  he  was  unaware  of  my  presence;  this  I  could 
have  turned  to  advantage  had  a  vital  part  been  exposed. 
Long  I  stood  in  my  awkward  position,  hoping  that  ho 
would  slew  himself  round ;  but  such  a  movement  seemed 
foreign  tD  his  intention.  At  length  the  grizzly  lowered  his 
hold  of  the  tree  till  his  fore-paws  were  beneath  the  level  of 
his  head,  when,  turning  to  the  left,  he  rested  the  jaw  upon 
his  foot,  at  the  same  moment  obtaining  the  first  view  of  me. 
Not  a  muscle  of  the  bear's  body  moved,  while  the  small 
pig-like  eyes  momentarily  increased  in  the  glow  of  tlieir  in- 
tensity. In  that  gaze  there  was  no  mistake ;  it  clearly 
said,  "  I  will  brook  no  intruder  in  my  demesne,  and  the  life 
of  him  who  is  guilty  of  it  shall  pay  the  penalty." 

It  was  a  fool-hardy  or  precipitous  course  to  pursue.  I 
would  not  do  it  now,  no,  nor  even  then,  if  starvation  had 
not  stared  me  in  the  face.  I  raised  my  gun  and  took  sight, 
hoping  the  ball  would  penetrate  the  neck  near  the  junction 
of  the  head ;  but  my  eye  and  hand  failed  me ;  the  bullet 
glanced  off  the  weather-beaten  tree-trunk,  smashed  a  paw, 
ultimately  glancing  through  the  thick  skin  at  the  base  of 
the  quarry's  ear.  My  foe  fell,  but  in  a  moment  after  was 
on  his  legs,  and,  before  I  had  time  to  think,  came  at  me 
with  headlong  speed.  His  lower  jaw  interfered  with  the 
breast-shot,  for  his  mouth  was  wide  open :  still  I  fired,  for 
I  felt  that  only  an  instant  existed  between  my  being  in 
his  grasp ;  but  the  result  was  only  a  momentary  recoil.  I 
raised  my  gun  to  sa^e  my  head ;  but  it  was  sent  flying  into 
the  brush,  and  I  was  prostrated.  My  sheath -knife,  how- 
ever, was  at  hand.  One,  two,  three  stabs,  a  spasmodic 
gasp  and  shudder  of  frame,  and  the  wounded  monster,  try- 

7* 


't 


154 


PRAIHIE  AND  FOREST. 


ing  to  enc'rcle  me  with  his  paws,  sank  slowly  by  my  side. 
His  left  fore-foot  was  smashed  to  pieces,  and  his  lower  jaw 
splintered,  or  I  believe  I  iiever  shoiild  have  lived  to  narrate 
the  death  of  the  fijrizzlv  of  the  Black  Hills. 


CINNAMON    BEAR. 

This  bear,  which  is  cinnamon  in  color,  and  doubtless  the 
connecting  link  between  the  grizzly  and  Arctic  species,  has 
considerable  resemblance  to  both,  but,  smaller  and  slighter 
built  than  the  former,  still  possesses  all  its  vindictivenpss 
of  character  and  powers  of  vitality,  combined  with  greater 
activity.  ,    :■ 

Although  existing  chiefly  on  vegetable  diet,  it  will  greed- 
ily avail  itself,  whenever  opportunity  offei's,  to  goi'ge  on 
flesh ;  and  to  so  great  an  extent  has  it  been  known  to  in- 
dulge in  gluttony,  that,  on  discovery  by  the  hunter,  it  has 
been  foutd  alike  incapable  of  defense  or  escape. 

On  the  first  settlement  of  Oregon  and  British  Columbia, 
the  farmers  suffered  such  serious  losses  among  their  valua- 
ble 1  ewly-imported  herds  of  horned  cattle  and  sheep  that  a 
■w  ar  of  extermination  was  declared  against  the  red  bears  (as 
they  are  frequently  there  called),  which  did  not  terminate 
in  those  neighborhoods  till  the  race  had  there  almost  be 
come  extinct.  In  the  vicinity  of  the  Caribou  gold  mines 
they  now  are  occasionally  to  be  found,  and  doubtless  will 
frequent  that  locality  for  many  years  to  come,  as  the  sur- 
rounding country  is  very  rugged,  covered  with  dense  tim- 
ber, and  totally  unfit  for  cultivation. 

Many  and  many  are  the  stories  I  have  heard  related  by 
trappers  and  miners  in  reference  to  their  adventures  wuh 
these  savage  animals ;  but  as  one  bear  story  is  so  much  like 
another,  I  desist  here,  as  my  personal  knowledge  of  the 
species  is  limited,  only  adding  that  I  have  heard  it  uni- 
versally affirmed  that  the  activity  of  the  cinnamon  bear 


;»a 


BLACK  BEAR. 


155 


makes  it  a  more  danarerous  foe  than  even  the  much-dreaded 
grizzly. 

BLACK   BEAR. 

None  of  the  ferch  naturce  are  better  known  in  a  state  of 
captivity  than  the  black  bear.  What  village  school-boy, 
however  remote  the  hamlet  in  which  he  resides,  can  not 
remember  poor  Bruin  being  led  round  by  some  half-wash- 
ed, unconued  foreigner,  or  his  forming  a  portion  of  the  at- 
tractions which  drew  the  gaping  crowd  to  enter  the  strong- 
smelling  precincts  of  the  annually-visiting  erratic  menage- 
rie ?  Alas !  hard  is  the  poor  bear's  life  when  he  is  thus  a 
prisoner.  In  summer  he  is  kept  on  half-diet,  and  sh'  "  up 
in  a  miserable  den ;  in  winter  he  is  stowed  away  in  a  cellar, 
and  possibly,  at  least  once  a  week,  baited  with  curs,  that 
the  blackguard  owner  may  raise  enough  funds  to  carry  on 
his  vagrant  life.  How  different  this  from  the  life  the  oear 
enjoyed  in  his  native  woods,  wandering  about  at  pleasure, 
enjoying  every  luxury  of  nature  that  tlie  seasons  prod  ^e, 
and,  if  in  a  country  subject  to  a  severe  •vinter,  quietly  sleep- 
ing through  that  portion  of  the  year  when  the  winds,  load- 
ed '.vitb  frost  and  snow,  whistle  round  his  snug  retreat! 
The  black  bear  at  one  period  was  very  widely  distributed 
over  the  North  American  continent.  Its  range  now,  on 
account  of  the  advance  and  increase  of  population,  has  been 
much  restricted ;  still,  wherever  there  are  large  tracts  of 
uncultivated  ground,  representatives  of  this  species  will  be 
found,  whether  in  Canada  or  Labrador,  Florida,  Georgia,  or 
the  Far  West,  until  you  reach  the  Rooky  Mountains,  beyond 
which  I  have  never  heard  of  the  black  bear  being  seen,  the 
cinnamon  bear  and  the  grizzly  bear  there  supplying  his 
place.  So  numerous  still  are  the  black  bears  in  some  parts 
of  Arkansas  that  a  portion  of  each  year  is  set  aside  by  the 
squatters  and  farmers  for  their  capture,  and  large  packs  of 
curs,  specially  trained  to  .assist,    re  kept  for  this  purpose; 


■  «».i-/,ip 


T 


156 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


i'l 


h  '  ' 


i<i 


i  3- 

M 


and  numerous  instances  are  on  record  of  thirty,  or  even 
forty,  bears  having  in  a  couple  of  months  fallen  before  one 
hunter's  rifle.  The  flesh,  which  is  with  justice  much  prized, 
is  either  salted  down  or  smoked  for  future  use ;  while  the 
pelt  furnishes  a  bed,  or  is  sold  to  the  traders,  ultimately  to 
be  made  into  rugs  for  sleighs,  or  the  coarser  kinds  of  furs 
for  women  and  children. 

The  different  sizes  that  black  bears  attain  in  various  sec- 
tions of  the  country  are  somewhat  remarkable ;  so  much  so 
that  I  have  often  been  induced  to  believe  them  entitled  to 
be  considered  different  species;  but  otherwise  they  are  so 
similar  in  habits  of  life,  choice  of  food,  and  residence,  that 
it  would  only  be  opening  a  path  that  might  load  to  innu- 
merable intricacies  without  the  probability  of  resulting  in 
benefit.  The  black  bear  of  Michigan,  W'sroi  sin,  and  the 
regions  bordering  on  these  States,  never  exceeds  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  pounds  —  these  are  generally  denominated 
hog  bear;  but  when  you  descend  the  Mississippi  and  get 
into  the  canebrakes  of  Arkansas,  numbers  are  annually 
killed  that  reach  four  hundred-weight.  Coming  eastward, 
you  find  a  still  larger  animal ;  and  I  have  heard  from  un- 
<loubted  sources  that  in  the  State  of  Maine,  and  along  the 
edges  of  New  Brunswick,  bears  have  been  known  to  attain 
■six  or  even  seven  hundred  pounds'  weight.  Doubtless  these 
differences  are  occasioned  by  varieties  or  abundance  of  food 
that  the  different  regions  produce,  not  temperature  or  cli- 
mate, as  Wisconsin  and  IMaine  are  almost  in  the  same  lat- 
itude. 

Without  further  preamble,  I  will  attempt  a  description. 
The  black  bear  is  short  in  carcass,  with  an  unusually  bag- 
gy, slack  look ;  the  legs  are  long  and  powerful  in  their  sweep, 
and  the  animal  can  handle  them  with  the  skill  and  profi- 
ciency of  a  professed  pugilist;  the  head  is  very  nearly  an 
equilateral  triangle,  with  thd  nose  for  an  apex ;  the  ears  are 


i : 


T 


THE  BLACK  BEAR  TIMOROUS. 


15-? 


small  and  rounded,  the  same  distance  in  situation  behind 
the  eye  that  the  eye  is  from  the  nose ;  the  measurement  in 
circumference  close  in  front  of  the  shoulder  is  almost  as 
great  as  behind,  which  gradually  increases  as  it  ranges  back- 
ward till  the  loftiest  point  of  the  spinal  vertebrae  is  reach- 
ed ;  while  the  hind  limbs,  from  their  immense  muscular 
power,  as  well  as  abundance  of  flesh,  appear  like  the  ex- 
tremities of  a  man  encased  in  peg-top  trowsers.  In  walk- 
ing, the  toes  of  the  fore-feeft  are  turned  in,  while  the  use  of 
the  nether  limbs  is  so  human  as  to  appear  like  a  burlesque 
on  genus  homo;  but  if  a  casual  observer  be  thus  struck, 
the  anatomist  recognizes  in  this  exaggerated  formation  the 
means  supplied  the  animal  by  nature  to  ascend  trees,  escape 
enemies,  or  earn  its  support.  The  color,  when  the  pelt  is 
prime,  is  glossy  black ;  but  in  early  spring  a  rufous  tint  is 
strongly  developed ;  this  is  assisted  by  the  undergrowth  of 
wool  becoming  elongated,  and  showing  through  the  coarser 
black  hairs  that  at  other  sep«ons  are  the  only  visible  cover- 
ing, unless  a  close  and  minute  inspection  be  made.  From 
the  eyes_,  in  a  straight  line  almost  at  right  angles  to  the 
nose,  the  fur  is  brown,  with  a  tip  of  the  same  color  fre- 
quently over  the  eyebrow.  At  the  same  time,  exceptions, 
more  particularly  among  those  of  the  North-western  States, 
are  to  be  found,  which  are  black  to  the  nostrils.  ; 

As  a  general  rule,  when  this  bear  is  in  a  state  of  nature, 
he  is  extremely  timorous  of  man,  flying  from  him  with 
a  stealth  and  rapidity  almost  marvelous ;  but  wound  him, 
Imrt  him,  even  insult  his  dignity,  and  the  huntsman  must 
be  prepared  for  a  conflict  that  will  only  terminate  in  death ; 
for,  once  enraged  and  drawn  into  hostilities,  his  combative- 
ness  increases,  never  lessening  till  life  is  extinct.  However, 
instances  have  been  known  where  Bj'uin  has  not  had  those 
excuses  for  becoming  aggressor ;  but  generally  these  belli- 
cose individuals  have  been  an  old  lady  engaged  in  impart- 


I : 


158 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


1;      , 


VA  {■' 


ing  to  her  progeny  her  extensive  knowledge  of  the  world, 
fiome  gallant  lover  worshiping  at  the  shrine  of  his  devotion, 
or  possibly  a  half-starved  unfortunate  desirous  of  gaining 
some  retreat  where  appetite  could  be  gratified. 

The  first  bear  I  ever  shot  was  doubtless  suffering  from 
the  last.  I  will  narrate  the  circumstance.  In  the  State  of 
Wisconsin,  near  Green  liiver,  there  are  situated  some  beau- 
tiful retired  sheets  of  water.  These  spots  had  long  enchant- 
ed me  with  their  attractiveness,  for  game  abounded  in  their 
vicinity  ;  the  scenery  was  beautiful,  and,  above  all,  you  were 
entirely  free  from  man's  intrusion.  Could  it  be  v/ondered, 
then,  that  seldom  a  week  passed  that  I  did  not  find  time 
to  visit  them  ?  Summer  had  unconsciously  glided  into  au- 
tumn, the  dark,  dense  covering  of  the  trees  had  changed  to 
all  the  gaudy  hues  of  the  rainbow,  and  the  enlarged  ripples 
on  the  water,  and  occasional  sighings  of  the  wind,  predict- 
ed that  at  no  distant  period  another  shroud  than  the  green 
grasses  would  cover  the  surface  of  the  earth. 

On  the  day  in  question,  when  I  left  ray  couch,  immense 
numbers  of  wild  fowl  were  migrating  southward — evident 
signs  that  cold  weather  had  made  its  appearance  north. 
So,  hjping  possibly  to  kill  a  swan,  or  a  scarce  specimen  of 
wild  duck,  I  determined  to  visit  my  lakes  once  more  ere 
they  were  frozen  up.  At  noon,  when  I  started  to  fulfill  my 
purpose,  largs  flakes  of  snow  were  noiselessly  descending, 
but  not  in  sufficient  numb'  rs  to  obliterate  the  trail.  The 
water  reached,  the  first  glance  exposed  a  sight  only  seen 
by  those  who  reside  beyond  the  verges  of  civilization, 
where  the  wild  denizens  of  the  air  or  inhabitants  of  the 
land  reign  supreme.  The  surface  of  the  lakes  wr.d  covered 
with  ducks  of  every  variety — moving  room  even  looked 
scarce;  still  phalanx  after  phalanx  came  Bwooping  down 
before  the  wind  with  the  well-known  velocity  that  a  wild 
duck's  wings  command.     Quack,  quack,  quack,  went  the 


n 


AN  UNWELCOME   VISITOR 


159 


ducks  on  the  water;  a  prolonged  note  from  those  in  the 
air  answered.  The  three  notes  were  an  invitation,  the  one 
note  a  hearty  responsie,  as  willingly  accepting  the  invitation 
as  the  most  hospitable  host  could  desire. 

A  few  shots  filled  my  bag,  and  I  seated  myself  on  a  rock, 
regardless  alike  of  snow  or  wind,  to  admire  and  learn  the 
instinct  of  the  animal  world.  Hour  after  hour  glided  on, 
and  night  was  near  as  1  returned  my  pipe  to  my  pocket, 
unfolded  my  covering  from  around  my  gun-locks,  and  rose 
to  depart.  The  snow  had  in  the  mean  time  obliterated  my 
path;  still  the  familiar  trees  and  the  ever -true -speaking 
mosses  told  with  certainty  the  direction.  Indolently  and 
self-satisfied  I  broke  into  the  bush  on  my  homeward  route; 
the  weight  of  the  game  told  heavily  on  my  shoulders. 
When  half  of  the  journey  (which  I  had  long  wished  had 
been  the  whole)  was  reached,  I  heard  a  rustling  in  the 
brush,  evidently  caused  by  large  game.  Such  a  warning 
instantly  aroused  me,  and,  on  the  alert  for  further  sport,  I 
took  all  the  surrounding  visible  objects  in  at  a  glance.  In 
front  was  a  bear.  A  monster  to  my  vision  he  appeared, 
for  I  was  uninitiated  at  that  time — and  I  believe  the  eye 
has  a  trick  of  dealing  in  the  marvelous  with  unaccustome;^ 
objects — and,  to  my  horror.  Bruin  was  coming  directly  to- 
ward me.  My  first  feoHng  was  to  fly;  next,  to  ascend  a 
tree;  thirdly,  to  disappear  into  my  boots.  The  second 
glance  gave  mo  more  assurance.  Mr.  Bear  was  evidently 
on  urgent  private  affairs ;  his  whole  manner  bespoke  this ; 
and  he  did  not  see  me ;  so  I  determined  to  stand  still,  hop- 
ing he  would  remain  ignorant  of  my  presence,  or,  at  least, 
give  me  a  fair  show,  if  compelled  to  fight.  Onwaid  ad- 
vanced Bruin ;  closer  and  closer  he  came,  and  the  nearer 
he  approached  the  farther  my  heart  came  into  my  mouth. 
Still  he  was  fifty  yards  off,  and  had  plenty  of  time  to  change 
his  course;  but  no  such  change  took  place;  for  if  he  had 


f^ii 


I 


fci  n 


ill 


160 


I'liAlMlE  AND  FOREST. 


been  a  ball  bowled  at  a  wicket  the  precision  of  his  course 
could  not  have  been  truer.     Twenty  yards  could  not  have 


-'iK 


CLOSE   QUARTEU8. 


intervened  between  us  when  my  presence  became  known, 
and  the  manner  of  welcome  I  received  was  far  from  en- 
couraging, for  he  halted,  sniffed  in  the  air,  and  gave  an  an- 


DEATH  OF  THE  BEAM. 


161 


gry  growl.  I  wished  myself  at  home  in  bed,  or  at  the  an- 
tipodes, or  in  any  place  but  my  present  stand-point ;  for 
remember,  reader,  my  gun  was  only  loaded  with  duck-shot ; 
and  I  was  young,  and,  I  fear,  very  soft.  It  was  evident 
that  my  appearance  was  not  intimidating,  for  my  adversary 
neither  swerved  to  right  nor  left,  and  his  wicked  eyes  blazed 
forth  flashes  of  malignant  hate.  Eight  or  ten  yards  more 
the  distance  was  diminished,  when,  whether  from  fear,  cer- 
tain that  my  last  moments  had  arrived,  or  knowledge  of 
the  animal's  habits,  I  gave  a  shout — a  feeble  one,  of  no  dis- 
tinct note,  I  believe ;  but  the  result  was  fortunate,  for  the 
foe  halted,  and  really  seemed  uncomfortable,  occasionally 
glancing  around,  as  if  he  believed  retreat,  if  possible,  would 
be  advisable;  but  second  thoughts  are  not  always  best. 
The  irresolution  was  fatal,  and  the  bear  found  it  so  ulti- 
mately, for  he  again  advanced  toward  me.  When  scarcely 
eight  yards  divided  us,  a  second  shout  brought  him  again 
to  a  halt,  and,  as  he  sat  up,  displaying  his  teeth — symptoms 
that  too  truly  said,  "  I  will  teach  you  a  lesson  " — I  let  him 
have  the  contents  of  the  right  barrel,  aimed  for  the  nose, 
well  knowing  the  shortness  of  range  would  throw  the  pro- 
jectiles up.  And  so  it  did.  At  so  short  a  distance  the 
concussion  was  irresistible ;  both  eyes  were  destroyed,  the 
forehead  up  to  the  apex  of  the  crown  fearfully  cut  up,  and 
the  poor  bear  rolled  over,  clawing  the  injured  parts  in  life's 
last  agony.  Without  hesitation  I  delivered  the  coup  de 
grace  by  discharging  the  second  barrel  at  the  butt  of  Bruin's 
ear,  thus  surely  putting  a  finishing  toudi  to  his  earthly  ca- 
reer. This  bear  weighed  about  two  hundred  and  twenty 
pounds,  and  was,  in  the  vicinity  where  killed,  deemed  a 
very  large  one. 

When  in  the  State  of  Maine,  I  was  called  from  my  writ- 
ing by  the  landlord  of  the  small  road-side  hotel  at  which  I 
was  residing.     He  informed  me  that  a  bear  had  entered 


i"i 


162 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


the  clearing,*  evidently  with  the  intention  of  attacking  lii.s 
drove  of  sheep.  Seizing  my  unloaded  gun,  and  hastily 
charging  both  barrels  with  bullets,  I  rushed  down  to  join 
him,  in  the  state  of  deshabille  I  had  been  sitting.-  From 
an  eminence  a  few  yards  from  the  house  we  took  a  survey : 
no  bear  could  be  seen ;  but  the  timid  sheep  were  huddled 
in  a  fence  corner,  evidently  having  suffered  no  ordinary 
fright. 

With  anxious  gaze  we  scanned  the  inclosure;  several 
times  a  blackened,  charred  stump,  the  memento  of  some 
giant  monarch  of  the  forest,  was  supposed  to  be  the  bear. 
Again  and  again  our  mistake  was  found  out,  and  a  new  ab- 
ject was  metamorphosed  into  Bruin.  Ten  minutes  were 
thus  spent,  the  flock  of  sheep  became,  if  possible,  more  un- 
easy, when,  with  sudden  energy,  they  made  a  simultaneous 
dash  and  crossed  to  the  far  side  of  the  field ;  still  no  bear 
was  visible,  but  that  he  was  close  at  hand  was  evident. 
Loss  of  time  or  prolonged  suspense  began  to  make  us  care- 
less ;  an  advance  into  the  field  had  even  been  proposed,  and 
was  about  to  be  executed,  when  the  sheep  made  another 
start,  evidently  intent  on  returning  to  the  position  we  found 
them  in ;  but  as  they  passed  a  log  out  rushed  Bruin,  and 
cut  off  the  retreat  of  the  hindermost.  The  poor  victim 
made  two  or  three  feeble  efforts  to  regain  his  fellows,  then 
turned  and  looked  his  enemy  in  the  face,  and  from  that  mo- 
ment succumbed  to  fate,  at  the  same  time  retaining  the  use 
of  his  legs.  Nor  did.  Bruin  rush  up  and  seize  him.  He 
only  headed  him  off  when  inclined  to  turn  out  of  the  prop- 
er direction,  driving  him  all  the  time  toward  the  right  side 
of  the  field,  which  edged  on  a  piece  of  swamp.  Soon  the 
fence  was  gained ;  here  the  sheep's  fortitude  forsook  him, 
and  as  both  landlord  and  self  had  followed  as  close  in  rear 


*  Where  the  forest  has  been  cut  away  for  cultivation. 


A  GOOD  SHOT. 


103 


as  advisable,  we  were  witnesses  of  «  proceeding  almost  in- 
credible. Bruin  was  evidently  in  a  magnanimous  frame 
of  mind,  or  was  overcome  by  his  natural  politeness,  for, 
without  worrying  or  mauling,  never  for  a  moment  using 
his  teeth,  he  picked  up  the  poor  sheep  between  his  paws, 
l)laoed  it  on  the  top  of  the  rails,  then  pushed  it  over,  and 
with  the  agility  of  a  greyhound  cleared  the  fence  himself. 
The  shock  had  roused  the  victim  and  re-animated  him,  for 
both  walked  off  into  the  bush,  the  one  satisfied  to  be  driven, 
the  other  apparently  a  not  overexacting  shepherd.  Fol- 
lowing up  the  duo  as  rapidly  and  silently  as  circumstances 
would  permit,  we  again  came  on  both ;  but  the  bear  had 
been  annoyed,  or  the  sheep  could  or  would  not  do  what 
was  wanted,  for  Bruin  had  seized  the  unfortunate,  and 
dragged  him  on  a  log,  and  was  using  both  teeth  and  claws 
with  animosity  and  purpose.  Making  a  stalk,  I  got  within 
twenty  yards  of  both ;  the  sheep's  head  had  already  been  al- 
most severed  from  the  body,  and  the  hot  and  liquid  gore 
was  evidently  giving  intense  satisfaction  to  the  slayer. 
With  a  long,  steady  aim  I  covered  the  white  horseshoe  on 
the  bear's  breast ;  the  gun  was  a  large  and  heavy  one,  the 
necessary  pressure  of  the  trigger  was  given,  and  without  a 
moan,  almost  without  a  kick,  the  would-be  despoiler  and  his 
prey  fell  to  the  earth  together.  The  shot  was  a  good  one ; 
the  results,  on  dissection,  proved  with  what  precision  and 
force  a  solid  bullet  can  be  fired  from  a  common  shot-gun. 
This  bear  weighed  four  hundred  pounds,  and,  from  the  de- 
cayed and  worn  teeth,  must  have  been  an  old  stager ;  in 
fact,  I  think  age  is  wanted  to  give  black  bears  the  courage 
to  attack  and  kill  cattle. 

The  white  shoe  on  the  breast  is  commonly,  in  some  sec- 
tions of  the  country,  the  spot  which  the  trapper  waits  to 
be  expcsed,  to  shoot  at.  A  ball  entering  there,  and  going 
either  upward  or  horizontally,  always  proves  fatal.     How- 


f^^ 


104 


HtAllilE  AND  FOHEST. 


1 


ever,  behind  the  shoulder,  very  low  down,  is  the  favorite 
aim  with  me.  In  these  cross -shots,  if  obtainable,  you  al- 
ways have  more  to  shoot  at,  and  the  regions  of  the  heart 
are  reached  nearer  the  surface.  The  butt  of  the  ear,  a  lit- 
tle backward,  if  close  enough  to  make  certain,  is  another 
deadly  point ;  but  the  size  of  this  delicate  and  mortal  place 
is  small,  and  should  never  be  chosen  beyond  thirty  yards. 
The  head-shot  can,  with  conical  bullets,  easily  be  perform- 
ed ;  but  a  spherical  bullet,  especially  from  a  small-bore  rifle, 
from  the  wedge-shape  of  the  cranium,  is  very  apt  to  glance 
off  without  injuring  more  than  the  skin. 

In  hunting  bears  with  dogs,  the  commonest  cur  that  has 
pluck  enough  to  snap  at  his  heels  is  the  best  animal  for  the 
purpose.  The  bear  gets  worried,  then  cross,  and  ultimate- 
ly ascends  tlic  first  tree  that  his  judgment  tells  him  is  suit- 
able, resting  most  frequently  on  the  soonest-reached  branch, 
unless  the  hunter  be  seen  or  heard;  if  so,  then  the  highest 
foot  of  timber  sufficiently  strong  to  support  him  will  be 
selected.  On  such  occasions  it  has  been  known  for  him  to 
ascend  too  high  for  the  strength  of  the  limb,  when,  the 
bough  breaking,  both  came  tumbling  to  the  earth.  Al- 
though such  a  rapid  and  lofty  descent  would  certainly  de- 
stroy a  man.  Bruin  will  arise  uninjured,  shake  himself,  and 
trot  off  as  if  nothing  had  happened. 

The  vitality  of  the  bear  is  immense.  His  powers  of  de- 
struction when  wounded  are  equally  so.  So,  gentle  reader, 
if  it  should  be  your  fortune  to  go  bear- hunting,  pray  be 
careful  in  your  approach  to  them  when  wounded.  A  sports- 
man's maxim,  that  should  never  be  forgotten,  is,  "Always 
load  your  gun  before  you  move  from  where  it  was  dis- 
charged, and  never  let  the  excitement  of  the  moment  per- 
mit you  to  hurry  when  performing  this  useful  duty." 

A  great  many  bears  have  been  killed  with  the  knife  only, 
but  the  person  who  performs  so   dangerous  a  feat  must 


HABITS  OF  THE  BLACK  BEAR. 


165 


truly  bo  fool-hardy  and  reckless  of  consequences,  and  in  my 
belief  such  conduct  is,  except  in  cases  of  emergency,  most 
unjustifiable.  For  One  who  returns  safe  in  limb  and  skin 
from  such  a  contest,  the  majority  who  attempt  it  get  fear- 
fully mauled,  or  very  possibly  disabled. 

The  black  bear  in  a  state  of  captivity  is  extremely  rest- 
less, and,  when  old,  bad-tempered  and  treacherous,  more 
especially  should  hy  have  been  teased  in  his  youth ;  but 
when  he  roves  the  forest,  free,  he  is  the  laziest  and  most 
luxurious  fpUow,  sleeping  the  greater  portion  of  his  time, 
feeding  on  nuts  or  luscious  fruits,  playing  in  the  sun's  heat 
with  comrades,  and  seldom  quarreling  with  his  brethren. 
When  passage^  of  arms  take  place,  love  is  the  cause,  and 
the  battle  is  waged  more  in  words  than  blows. 

Two  or  three  years  ago,  in  the  autumn,  about  midnight, 
I  was  passing  through  a  chain  of  lakes  in  the  State  of 
Maine ;  the  night  was  lighted  by  an  occasional  star,  strug- 
gling through  the  rapidly  fleeting  dark  clouds  for  an  op- 
portunity to  sluow  the  earth  its  brilliancy.  I  was  alone, 
and,  save  the  splash  of  my  paddle  and  the  occasional  un- 
earthly call  of  the  loon,  ail  was*  still  as  the  grave.  A  nar- 
row passage  I  traversed,  to  avoid  the  weeds,  made  me  hug 
the  land  so  close  that  occasionally  the  limb  of  a  tree  would 
brush  against  my  birch  -  bark  canoe.  With  a  suddenness 
that  made  my  heart's  blood  run  cold,  a  yell  from  some  un- 
known beast,  loud,  shrill,  and  unearthly,  so  close  that  I  al- 
most believed  for  a  moment  that  the  cause  was  within 
reach,  echoed  from  tree  to  tree,  and  died  away,  reverbera- 
ting in  the  distance.  Again  and  again  it  was  repeated. 
For  a  while  I  remained  motionless,  till  the  cool  breeze  re- 
called me' to  myself,  and  I  proceeded  homeward.  Next 
morning  I  returned  to  examine  the  place.  A  veteran  hunt- 
ei|  was  my  companion,  and  we  found  such  convincing  proof 
that  bears  had  been  there,  that  one  of  them,  I  feel  certain, 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  MS80 

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166 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


produced  the  weird-like  sound  that  had  caused  me  so  much 
alarm,  ray  companion  assuring  me  that  at  the  period  the 
sexes  came  together,  if  rivals  are  in  the  way,  the  call  or 
note  of  defiance  is  quite  dissimilar  from  their  general  voice. 
Early  in  spring  the  young  are  born.  At  first  they  are 
very  small.  In  six  weeks  they  are  able  to  accompany  their 
mother,  who  cares  for  them  with  the  greatest  solicitude 
and  attention,  hauling  the  logs  on  one  side  for  the  cubs  to 


CANADIAN  PORCUPINE. 

obtain  the  coveted  grubs  and  larvaj  underneath,  pulling 
down  the  uppermost  branches  that  produce  fruit ;  and  if  by 
accident  the  young  should  be  placed  in  a  position  of  danger, 
her  life  is  always  willingly  sacrificed  in  their  defense. 

Walking  across  a  portage  in  Maine,  close  to  the  borders 
of  New  Brunswick,  in  front  of  the  party  of  which  I  was  a 
member,  my  gun  loaded,  in  the  hope  of  killing  a  grouse  or 
two,  I  perceived  a  small  animal,  about  the  size  of  a  King 
Charles  spaniel,  running  along  the  track  a  hundred  or  more 


HiiiiS 


A  BEAU'S  WINTER  RETREAT. 


167 


yards  in  front  of  me.  Without  troubling  myself  to  look 
closely,  I  concluded  it  was  a  porcupine,  animals  which  were 
extremely  common  in  the  vicinity.  Soon  after  a  aog  be- 
longing to  one  of  my  companions  passed  me;  stooping  to 
the  trail  he  gave  tongue,  and  went  in  pursuit  at  his  best 
possible  speed.  In  a  few  moments  I  knew  he  had  brought 
something  to  bay,  and,  proceeding  to  his  assistance,  I  found 
a  young  bear,  the  size  of  a  badger,  treed  in  a  six-inch  sap- 


ling.    Where   was   the   mother?    Answer 


says,   "Don't 


know ;"  for  young  Bruin,  after  a  vixenish  fight,  was  secured, 
and,  although  half  an  hour  elapsed  in  the  operation,  the  old 
lady  still  remained  non  est. 

It  is  very  common  foi  bears  to  be  killed  after  they  have 
retired  to  their  dormitory  for  the  winter  sleep.  When  liv- 
ing near  Lake  Couchachin,  in  Canada,  I  assisted  on  such  an 
occasion.  An  Indian  from  Rama  came  to  me  in  great 
haste,  with  the  hope  I  would  sell  him  some  ammunition. 
From  his  earnestness  and  anxiety  I  knew  that  he  had  made 
a  valuable  discovery,  which  after  a  little  higgling  was  dis- 
closed. He  had  found  a  bear's .  retreat  in  a  hollow  log, 
nearly  imbedded  in  snow,  and  the  ammunition  was  for  poor 
Bruin's  destruction. 

Stipulating  that  I  should  have  a  share  of  the  sport,  I  sup- 
plied the  ammunition,  and  we  started.  The  distance  was 
short.-  Mr.  Chippewa  Indian  knocked  on  the  log,  and  the 
writer  stood  at  the  entrance.  Poor  Bruin  at  length  forsook 
his  snug  retreat,  yawning  and  looking  stupid  as  he  emerged 
into  daylight,  when  a  bullet  at  less  than  five  yards  settles 
the  matter.  When  a  bear  is  thus  housed  in  a  log  a  heavy 
vapor  of  steam,  should  the  weather  be  calm,  perceptibly 
hangs  over  it. 

A  friend,  in  the  true  sense  of  the  word,  and  myself  heard 
of  a  small  lake  on  the  edges  of  New  Hampshire  and  Maine, 
that  was  reported  to  swarm  with  trout,  and,  as  a  tramp 


168 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


through  the  wild  timber  lands  was  never  'objectionable,  we 
determined  to  make  an  effort  to  find  it  o  .  An  old  lum- 
berman, long  superannuated,  gave  us  our  instructions  thus : 
"  First  go  through  the  wood  two  miles  north,  then  incline  a 
little  to  the  westward,  and  after  about  half  an  hour's  walk- 
ing through  a  swamp  you  will  strike  a  small  brook,  which 
follow  up,  and  you  will  certain  sure  make  the  pond."*  To 
those  who  have  not  wandered  through  an  American  for- 
est such  instructions  will  be  perceived  to  be  far  from  defi- 
nite ;  to  the  thorough  woodsman,  ho\^^ever,  they  would  be 
sufficient.  Before  we  left  the  township  road  where  we 
were  to  branch  off,  there  stood  a  shanty,  at  which  we  halt- 
ed to  put  up  the  horse  and  buggy  in  which  we  had  thus 
far  traveled.  From  the  head  of  the  establishment  we  made 
inquiries,  who,  calling  to  his  son  who  was  within,  gave  the 
following  directions:  "Bub,f  take  the  gents,  and  show 
them  the  pond."  Now  "  Bub  "  was  a  most  communicative 
youngster,  about  fourteen  years  of  age,  and,  scenting  a  dol- 
lar in  the  distance,  hopefully  undertook  the  job.  A  cow- 
path  we,  the  trio,  followed  for  more  than  a  mile,  then  we 
continued  on  what  is  familiarly  designated  a  blaze  road — id 
est,  a  path  marked  out  by  a  tree  at  every  hundred  yards, 
more  or  less,  having  a  piece  scooped  out  of  its  bark.  The 
walking  was  as  bad  as  possible,  for  constantly  we  were  de- 
layed by  giants  of  the  forest  who  had  been  prostrated  by 
the  gales  of  preceding  winters.  At  length,  tired  and  fright- 
fully worried  by  musquitoes,  we  reached  a  brook  eight  or 
ten  feet  in  breadth,  but  deep  and  sullen  as  a  canal ;  down 
this  we  pursued  an  erratic  course  till,  between  two  lofty 
bluffs,  we  came  upon  a  beautiful  sheet  of  water  of  an  aren 
of  about  forty  acres.     To  fish  it  from  the  bank  was  impos- 

*  Small  lakes  in  Maine  are  always  called  ponds, 
t  A  Yankee  father's  familiar  way  of  addressing  his  son  ;  daughters,  af- 
ter the  same  manner,  are  callctl  "Sis." 


TROUT-FISHING. 


169 


rs,  af- 


sible,  for  the  sumac  and  cedar  grew  to  its  margin,  so  that 
no  other  resource  was  left  but  to  cut  a  number  of  cedar 
logs  and  form  a  raft.  An  hour  or  more  was  lost  in  this 
operation ;  and  when  we  had  launched  out,  we  found  that 
nothing  but  the  smallest  fry  could  be  taken,  although  these 
were  in  such  quantities,  that  frequently  we  would  have  three 
or  four  rises  to  a  cast.  For  an  hour  or  more  we  fished  in- 
defatigably,  still  nothing  over  a  quarter  of  a  pound  reward- 
ed our  labors ;  and  when  we  landed  for  our  picnic  lunch  I 
determined  to  fish  the  stream  with  the  hope  of  obtaining 
some  heavier  specimens.  My  friend,  who  felt  indisposed, 
either  from  the  efEects  of  the  sun,  or  some  State  of  Maine 
whisky  (warranted  to  kill  as  far  as  a  six-shooter)  which  he 
had  been  imbibing,  refused  to  accompany  me ;  so,  with  the 
youth  who  had  acted  as  Palinurus,  I  left  him  to  ruminate 
over  his  transgressions  or  misfortune. 

As  I  had  supposed,  large  fish  were  to  be  found  in  the 
stream,  and  my  basket  began  to  groan  under  its  weight, 
when  I  hooked  my  flies  in  the  top  of  a  larch  that  leaned 
over  the  water  close  in  my  rear.  With  all  my  efforts  I 
could  not  get  them  free,  so  sending  the  lad  aloft,  I  waited 
patiently  for  him  to  cast  them  off.  The  place  where  I 
stood  was  hummocky,  such  lumps  as  you  come  across  in 
the  bogs  of  Ireland  when  snipe-shooting,  only  a  great  deal 
larger.  With  care  and  precaution  the  hummocks  could  be 
traversed  without  wetting  a  foot,  but  hurry  would  certain- 
ly get  you  between  them,  when  over  the  boot-tops  would 
be  the  consequence.  I  had  stood  for  several  minutes  for 
the  youngster  to  get  the  line  loose,  when,  across  the  stream, 
but  a  short  distance  off,  I  heard  an  animal  grunt ;  the  spot 
whence  the  sound  issued  was  a  large  clump  of  whortleber- 
ries, where  some  fallen  timber  lay.  Not  being  quite  cer- 
tain that  my  ears  had  not  deceived  me,  I  waited,  when  the 
noise  was  r(;peated.    By  this  time  my  line  was  free,  and 

8 


170 


PltAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


my  juvenile  companion  was  descending,  when  1  asked  him 
to  listen  to  the  noise,  for  I  felt  convinced  it  emanated  from 
no  other  than  a  bear  feeding,  enjoying  his  favorite  bonne 
boKche,  the  blue-berries.  Young  America  listened ;  Bruin 
gave  another  grunt  of  evident  satisfaction,  when  the  for- 
mer, exclaiming  "  Bear !"  slid  down  the  tree  with  such  agil- 
ity as  would  have  put  in  shade  the  majority  of  monkeys. 
As  soon  as  he  reached  the  ground,  off  he  started  down 
stream ;  but  the  funniest  part  of  all  was  that  my  guide,  in 
the  precipitancy  of  his  movements,  must  have  tripped  over 
the  hummocks  at  least  half  a  dozen  times  in  a  dozen  strides. 
When  we  had  got  thirty  or  forty  yards  off — f&r  I  followed, 
though  scarcely  as  rapidly — my  amour  propre  asserted  it- 
self, and  I  halted ;  not  so  my  companion ;  soon  he  disap- 
peared through  the  labyrinth  of  shrubs,  and  J.  remained 
alone.  To  my  relief  I  found  no  bear  was  in  pursuit,  so, 
placing  my  rod  against  a  stalwart  hemlock,  I  ascended  its 
branches  to  take  a  survey  of  the  situation :  for  a  long  time 
I  could  not  discover  Bruin,  but  at  length  detected  a  large 
mass  of  black  fur,  accompanied  by  two  smaller  ones,  busily 
employed  feeding.  They  had  quitted  the  wet  ground  and 
were  on  the  edge  of  an  acclivity,  where  the  mother  was 
most  industriously  drawing  the  broken  fragments  of  shat- 
tered logs  on  one  side,  while  her  hopeful  progeny  feasted 
upon  the  beetles  and  ants  thus  exposed.  The  old  lady  had 
neither  winded  nor  heard  us,  and  she  remained  sedulously 
pursuing  her  avocation,  perfectly  ignorant  that  her  indus- 
try and  strength  were  forming  a  subject  of  admiration  to  a 
son  of  Adam.  At  length  their  search  for  insects  took  them 
out  of  sight,  and  I  descended  to  join  my  companions. 

The  day  by  this  time  was  far  spent,  and  neither  of  us 
having  arms  suitable  for  an  assault  upon  the  happy  family, 
we  determined  to  seek  the  settlement  and  revisit  the  scene 
on  the  morrow.     Next  day,  at  an  early  hour,  with  quite  a 


A  BEAR-HUNT. 


171 


US 


■ 


re-enforcement,  all  armed  with  most  formidable  fire-arms, 
from  the  Spencer  rifle  to  the  old  smooth-bore,  and  accom- 
panied by  a  well-tried  bear-dog,  we  sallied  forth.  For  miles 
we  tracked  Madam  Bruin  by  the  broken  fragments  of  de- 
cayed timber  and  the  numerous  logs  she  had  disturbed  from 
their  original  resting-place.  Finally,  we  thought  she  could 
not  be  far  distant,  and  the  dog  was  untied ;  off  he  went  like 
a  thunderbolt,  and  in  a  quarter  of  an  hour  we  heard  him 
baying  vociferously.  Guns  were  looked  to,  the  men  most 
energetic  previously  now  dropped  behind,  doubtless  to  ex- 
amine their  trusty  rifles,  and  see  that  the  powder  was  up  in 
the  nipples;  but  when  we  reached  Watch,  what  was  our 
disgust  to  find  that  he  had  treed  a  covey  of  Canadian 
grouse?  Unwillingly  we  went  to  work  and  decimated 
this  unhappy  and  unconscious  brood,  nor  could  all  our 
efforts  afterward  induce  the  unfailing  bear-dog  to  take  up 
the  desired  track. 

The  scene  of  the  subsequent  narrative  was  between  Lake 
St.  John  and  Mud  Lake,  near  the  most  northern  extremity 
of  Lake  Simcoe,  Canada  West,  in  which  my  efforts  for 
Bruin's  destruction  were  more  successful. 

In  following  a  flight  of  ruflled  grouse,  which  had  risen 
so  far  beyond  range  as  to  have  prevented  my  getting  a  shot 
at  them,  I  came  across  a  perfect  brake  of  wild  grape-vines 
loaded  with  fruit.  I  could  not  withstand  the  temptation 
of  halting  for  a  feed,  for  they  had  been  touched  with  frost, 
which  changes  them  from  the  most  unpalatable  to  the  most 
delightfully  flavored  fruit.  ^  The  day  had  been  warm  for 
the  end  of  autumn,  and  I  suppose  the  fatigue  of  my  tramp, 
together  with  the  delightful  shade  afforded,  induced  me 
to  lie  down,  and,  as  might  be  expected  under  the  circum- 
stances, I  fell  asleep.  How  long  I  might  have  been  in  a 
state  of  oblivion  I  can  not  say,  but  I  was  awaked  by  my 
companion,  a  mongrel  English  terrier,  barking  vociferously 


172 


TRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


at  some  intruder.  After  a  stretch,  a  yawn,  and  the  usual 
awakening  actions,  I  turned  in  the  direction  of  Prince  to 
see  what  on  earth  had  raised  his  ire  and  disturbed  my  si- 
esta, when — judge  my  astonishment ! — I  beheld  a  large  bear 
erect,  pulling  down  the  vines,  not  twenty  yards  off,  ignorant 
of  my  presence,  but  occasionally  casting  a  furtive  glance 
back  at  his  angry  assailant,  who  took  precious  good  care 
to  keep  beyond  arms-length.  Men  become  cool  in  such  sit- 
uations, either  from  association  or  the  power  ot  controlling 
their  feelings.  My  gun  lay  at  my  side  loaded  with  No.  6 ; 
if  Bruin  found  me  out  and  became  aggressive,  at  close  quar- 
ters, say  eight  or  ten  yards,  I  was  prepared  to  risk  the  is- 
sue ;  if  he  would  only  move  off  a  little  way,  still  keeping  to 
windward,  I  thought  I  might  improve  my  opportunity  by 
substituting  a  brace  of  bullets.  Under  any  circumstances 
my  gun  would  be  required,  so  watching  the  first  opportuni- 
ty when  the  bear's  back  was  turned,  I  brought  my  double- 
barrel  close  by  my  side  and  cocked  each  lock.  Many  may 
laugh  when  I  say  I  did  not  feel  nervous ;  but  I  did  not,  and 
remained  watching  with  special  pleasure  the  enjoyment  that 
my  foe  appeared  to  take  in  crunching  up  whole  bunches  of 
the  luscious  fruit.  As  he  worked  farther  from  me  my  dog 
became  less  demonstrative,  only  occasionally  giving  way  to 
a  suppressed  growl,  which  his  feelings  were  unable  to  con- 
trol. 

Deeming  myself  comparatively  safe  from  the  distance 
that  intervened  between  us,  I  uncoriked  my  gun ;  then  first 
one  barrel  was  unloaded,  and  the  heavier  missile  substi- 
tuted, then  the  next  underwent  the  same  operation,  Bruin 
being  now  out  of  sight,  still  within  hearing ;  but  the  tables 
were  turned  :  if  formerly  I  was  prepared  to  leave  him  alone, 
I  now  felt  equal  to  acting  on  the  aggressive.  Giving  Prince 
a  little  encouragement,  he  again  rushed  to  the  attack,  and 
it  is  wonderful  with  how  much  more  ardor,  knowing  that 


: 


A  BALD'UEADED  EAGLE, 


J  73 


. 


his  master's  eye  was  on  him.  Soon  I  knew  the  dog  had 
nipped  him,  for  I  heard  a  rush — and  dogs  will  retreat  to- 
ward their,  masters— which  brought  Bruin  in  full  view.  As 
the  distance  was  greater  than  I  liked,  I  hesitated  to  fire,  but 
the  bear  had  seen  me,  and  disliking  my  appearance  turned 
to  make  off ;  but  the  brave  little  cur  was  at  his  heels,  and  as 
I  cheered  him  to  the  attack,  he  never  lost  an  opportunity  of 
pinching  Bruin's  stern,  who  at  length  treed  to  avoid  the 
persecuting  Uttle  pest  which  hung  in  his  rear,  the  most  de- 
sirable course  for  me  he  could  have  adopted.  By  the  time 
I  reached  the  spot  the  enemy  had  gained  the  first  fork,  not 
twenty  feet  overhead,  and  is  it  to  be  wondered  at  that  at 
such  a  short  range,  with  not  a  twig  to  intervene,  and  with 
a  clear  view  of  the  quarry's  shoulder,  one  barrel  brought 
him  to  the  ground  with  no  more  action  in  his  carcass  than 
the  usual  death  struggle  ?  My  trophy  was  not  large,  but 
well  fed,  and  his  haras  afforded  me,  for  many  a  subsequent 
morning,  a  bonne  bouche  worthy  of  a  hunter. 

But  poor  little  Prince  got  into  trouble  before  he  reached 
home.  As  I  struck  the  margin  of  a  river  which  lay  in  my 
route,  I  observed  a  large  bald-headed  eagle  sailing  about. 
Keeping  under  the  shelter  of  some  brush,  I  waited  for  a 
chance.  My  right-hand  barrel  I  had  reloaded  with  heavy 
shot,  and,  as  the  bird  passed  about  seventy  yards  off,  I  gave 
him  a  portion  of  its  contents,  which  was  responded  to  by 
his  immediately  reaching  the  ground  with  a  broken  wing. 
Prince,  plucky  with  the  issue  of  his  late  engagement,  made 
a  dash  at  the  bird,  but  caught  a  Tartar,  for  he  was  seized 
by  both  talons,  and,  but  that  I  came  to  the  rescue,  would 
have  been  rendered  useless  for  any  other  purpose  than  bait- 
ing a  wolf-trap.  As  it  was,  after  I  had  killed  the  bird  I  had 
some  difiiculty  in  unloosening  its  claws,  and  I  doubt  if  my 
faithful  little  mongrel  had  lived  to  the  age  of  Methuselah, 
he  ever  would  have  been  induced  to  tackle  another  eagle. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

WOLVES. 

There  are  certainly  three  distinct  species  of  wolves  on 
the  American  continent,  many  persons  say  more,  but  I  am 
inclined  to  believe  that  from  a  desire  to  increase  the  fauna 
of  a  country,  varieties  are  frequently  transferred  to  the  re- 
sponsible places  of  species.  My  opportunities  of  studying 
the  habits  and  appearance  of  the  wolf  have  been  very  great ; 
still,  although  ray  ideas  are  not  in  accordance  with  Audu- 
bon and  Bacheman,  and  other  accepted  naturalists,  I  have 
no  hesitation  in  stating  them. 

First,  on  account  of  the  greater  size  and  nearer  resem- 
blance of  the  animal  to  the  European  race,  we  will  take  the 
common,  familiarly-called  giay  wolf.  At  one  time  it  was 
scattered  all  over  the  North  American  continent  to  the  Gulf 
of  Mexico;  but  now,  with  few  exceptions,  is  not  to  be  found 
until  the  great  prairies  of  the  West  or  the  slopes  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains  are  reached,  or  the  immense  timber  lands 
to  the  north  of  Canada  entered.  But  still,  although  their 
habitat  has  become  restricted,  owing  doubtless  to  differ- 
ence of  latitude,  great  varieties  of  color  are  to  be  found 
among  this  species,  but  neither  in  habits,  voice,  nor  shape 
are  they  in  the  least  dissimilar.  I  am  aware  that  at  one 
time  I  possessed  a  different  idea,  but  farther  experience 
and  study  of  the  subject  caused  me  to  change.  Thus  on 
the  Rio  Grande  and  in  Southern  New  Mexidb  and  Sonora, 
the  wolf  is  most  frequently  black;  as  you  advance  north- 
ward red  is  the  preponderating  color,  gradually  changing 
into  gray  as  you  get  into  higher  latitudes,  that  changing  to 


. 


WOLVES. 


176 


wliito  as  you  approach  the  Arctic  Circle.  Tlie  texture  of 
the  hair  in  the  black  wolf  is  coarse,  and  his  covering  scant 
— that  of  the  red  animal  similar,  but  not  so  much  so,  while 
the  gray  is  well  provided  with  an  abundant  fur,  but  not 
equal  in  quality  or  texture  to  the  Arctic  variety.     Here,  as 


tiUAY  WOLVES. 


in  many  other  races,  is  to  be  observed  the  wonderfu^  pro- 
vision of  nature  to  enable  the  animal  kingdom  to  be  suita- 
bly clothed  for  the  climate  they  live  in,  whether  they  have 
to  combat  with  almost  tropical  heat  or  hyperborean  win- 
ters. Thus  what  is  generally  called  the  gray  wolf  is  one 
and  the  same  race  with  tho  black,  brown,  and  white,  the 
change  of  color  being  to  adapt  them  to  the  prevailing  tem- 
perature of  the  latitude  they  live  in. 

The  two  other  species  are  the  coyote  and  prairie-wolf, 
both  much  smaller  than  the  aforementioned  species,  in  fact 
bearing  the  same  relative  position  to  the  New  World  as 


170 


PJiAUilE  AND  FOREST. 


the  jackal  does  to  the  Old.  They  are  essentially  prairie  an- 
imals, and  invariably  live  in  burrows,  while  the  larger  race, 
although  found  in  the  open  country,  is  partial  to  forest,  and 
generally  sleeps  in  a  nest  or  den  upon  the  surface  of  the 
soil  or  in  a  crevice  of  the  rocks.  The  prairie-wolves  and 
coyotes  are  timid  little  fellows,  living  and  hunting  in  com- 
munities, and  if  captured  young  are  easily  tamed,  becoming 
much  attached  to  their  owner,  and  when  in  that  state  not 
unfrequently  display  sagacity  worthy  of  the  dog ;  while  the 
larger  wolf  becomes  sullen  and  treacherous  with  age,  ever 
evincing  an  unconquerable  dislike  to  his  domesticated  re- 
lation, the  dog,  and  if  at  any  time  able  to  recover  his  liber- 
ty will  at  once  return  to  the  modes  of  life  of  his  ancestry. 

In  courage  the  gray  wolf  of  America  materially  differs 
from  the  Old  World  race,  it  being  of  very  rare  occurrence 
for  them  to  attack  human  beings ;  still  such  have  happen- 
ed, but  never,  I  believe,  in  the  powerful  bands  trooped  to- 
gether that  scour  the  steppes  of  Western  Siberia  and  East- 
ern European  Russia.  It  may  be  that  game  being  more 
abundant  in  North  America  the  animals  do  not  get  reduced 
to  the  same  straits  from  hunger ;  but  this  I  doubt,  for  trav- 
elers of  authority  generally  advance  the  opinion  that  finer 
hunting-grounds  than  those  that  margin  the  Ural  range  are 
nowhere  to  be  found.  No,  the  ferocity  of  those  of  the  Old 
World  is  in  my  belief  attributable  to  this :  Europe  and  Asia 
have  ever  been  the  scenes  of  intestine  wars,  dead  and  wound- 
ed have  been  deserted  and  left  to  perish  —  naturally,  the 
wild  animals  have  preyed  upon  them,  and  thus  become  so 
familiar  with  our  race  as  to  know  their  helplessness  and 
want  of  powers  of  resistance.  Of  course  the  Indians  have 
carried  on  wars  among  themselves,  and  the  white  man  has 
constantly  been  in  the  habit  of  invading  the  territories  of 
tho  aborigines,  but  the  slaughter  in  these  forays  has  been 
trifling,  the  victims  on  either  side  seldom  left  without  inter- 


r 


EXCITEMENT  OF  A  GALLOP. 


177 


raeiit,  thus  deprivirig  the  carnivora  of  an  intimacy  with  the 
human  family,  wliich  leads  to  contempt  of  our  powers  of 
resistance,  or  possibly  a  relish  for  our  flesh. 

Few  of  us  have  not  experienced  the  excitement  of  a  gal- 
lop over  a  good  grass  country,  with  the  spotted  beauties 
leading  the  way,  getting  over  the  ground  at  a  racing  pace, 
while  your  mount  is  nearly  hauling  you  out  of  the  saddle 


I'ltAIUIE- WOLVES. 


with  enthusiasm  and  inclination  to  make  himself  on  still 
more  familiar  terms  with  the  pack.  By  Jove,  how  reckless 
such  excitement  makes  you  feel !  Fear  is  banished  for  the 
time  being — all  sense  of  danger  is  dispelled  to  the  winds, 
and  sooner  than  be  thrown  out  you  would  ride  at  a  canal, 
or  charge  any  height  of  timber.  You  may  be  old — yet  for 
the  time  feel  young :  you  may  be  blase — yet  you  feel  as 
buoyant  as  when  you  made  your  debut.    But  it  is  far  from 

8* 


178 


PRAIItlE  AND  FOREST. 


the  grass  countries,  across  three  thousand  miles  of  water 
and  fifteen  hundred  of  land — far  beyond  the  giant  Missis- 
sippi, to  the  illimitable  prairies  of  the  Far  West  I  wish  you, 
in  thought,  to  travel.  Imagine  a  boundless  expanse  of  un- 
dulating land,  covered  with  grass ;  here  and  there  a  sparse 
scattering  of  brush,  with  perhaps  one  or  two  lines  of  timber 
that  mark  the  margin  of  tributaries  of  some  mighty  river, 
and  you  have  the  landscape  without  entering  into  detail. 
What  a  place  for  a  gallop !  what  a  place  for  a  buffalo  run, 
or  any  other  kind  of  run  that  will  give  your  mettlesome 
nag  an  opportunity  of  showing  his  pluck  and  endurance. 
But  take  care;  don't  ride  with  a  slack  rein;  keep  your 
eyes  open :  all  may  look  plain  sailing  from  .e  distance,  but 
on  closer  inspection  you  may  come  upon  a  densely  popu- 
lated dog  town,  or  collection  of  coyote  earths,  each  hole  of 
which  is  big  enough  to  use  a  Newfoundland  in  for  a  fox 
terrier. 

Wolves  of  each  species  are  found  numerous  all  over  this 
elysium ;  game  is  abundant,  and  the  marauder  is  always  on 
its  track  looking  out  for  the  feeble  or  unfortunate.  Skulk- 
ing scoundrels  are  these  members  of  the  canine  fraternity, 
and  cunning  withal;  keen  and  successfnl  hunters  if  neces- 
sary, but  addicted  to  idleness ;  for  if  they  can  obtain  their 
dinner  at  others'  expense,  they  are  always  ready  to  sacrifice 
their  principle,  and  sponge  upon  the  first  acquaintance.  If 
you  go  out  for  pleasure,  or  with  the  desire  of  replenishing 
your  larder,  you  are  certain  to  be  attended ;  you  can  not 
get  away  from  camp  without  their  watchful  eyes  detecting 
you.  As  you  rise  one  knoll  you  may  observe  the  escort 
topping  the  last,  and  intently  keeping  all  your  movements 
under  their  observation.  Full  well  do  they  know  that  if 
buffalo  or  deer  fall  before  your  rifle,  on  the  refuse  that  you 
reject  they  will  find  a  bounteous  repast;  or  if  your  hands 
and  eyes  forget  their  cunning,  and  a  wounded  unfortunate 


''* 


THE  USE  OF  OREYflOUNDS. 


179 


■ 


. 


go^3  off,  then  the  chances  are  tha<.  the  whole  carcass  will 
fall  to  their  share,  and  a  gorgeous  feast  on  tidbits  ensue,  for 
Master  Luprs  has  wonderful  scenting  powers,  and,  with  the 
trail  spiced  with  blood,  he  grudgf^s  no  amount  of  exertion. 
Again,  the  wolf  is  generally  in  disgrace;  for  he  steals 
your  game  if  deserted  by  you  for  a  few  hours  to  procure 
assistance  to  transport  it  to  camp;  he  eats  your  lariat 
ropes,  untying  your  animals,  nibbles  the  flaps  of  your  sad- 
dles, and  keeps  up  an  unearthly  serenade  through  those 
hours  that  the  tired  sportsman  is  most  disposed  to  rest.  Is 
it  any  wonder  that  he  is  unpopular,  that  he  has  few  friends, 
and  that  he  is  considered  a  vermin  of  the  first  magnitude  ? 
In  all  shooting  excursions  you  will  have  idle  days,  a  lay-off 
for  the  more  serious  duties  of  the  morrow,  when  guns  are 
cleaned,  bullets  cast,  powder -flasks  replenished,  and  wet 
and  dirty  clothes  dried  or  washed.  The  forenoon  having 
sufiiced  to  perform  these  labors,  a  run  with  a  wolf  will  be 
found  not  a  bad  appetizer  for  your  evening  meal,  or  re- 
mover of  your  little  stiffnesses  and  ailments,  in  the  same 
way  as  a  little  exercise  is  necessary  to  tho  hunter  the  day 
after  a  long  or  hard  run.  To  enjoy  this  pleasure  to  per- 
fection you  must  be  provided  with  dogs,  and  there  are  none 
JO  suitable  as  the  strongest  stamp  of  greyhounds;  more 
powerful  ones  that  are  addicted  to  grappling  with  the  foe 
will  get  fearfully  mauled,  for  the  jaws  of  a  wolf  are  almost 
as  powerful  as  a  hyena's  and  consequently  your  limited 
establishment  would  be  half  the  time  on  the  sick-list;  with 
the  greyhound  it  is  different.  As  soon  as  you  get  a  view 
at  him  they  go,  and  although  the  game  is  swift,  still  his  ad- 
versaries are  not  long  in  ranging  alongside  when  a  snap  in 
the  hams  or  loins  immediately  brings  him  to  bay.  De- 
termined and  numerous  are  his  efforts  to  catch  the  nimble 
antagonists,  who  take  precioiid  good  care  to  keep  beyond 
reach.     After   a  few   moments   of  such  skirmishing,  the 


180 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


closer  approach  of  the  sportsman  admonishes  the  wolf  to 
be  moving,  and  off  he  goes,  best  foot  foremost;  but  his 
persecutors  are  in  attendance.  A  hundred  or  two  yards 
may  be  traversed,  and  again  he  is  brought  up  standing  from 
a  similar  cause ;  thus  the  game  is  played  till  the  wolf  is  ex- 
hausted, and  the  sportsman  gets  sufficiently  close  to  end 
the  episode  by  a  well-directed  pistol- bullet  through  the 
grizzly  marauder's  cranium. 

Spearing  the  wolf  on  horseback  is  also  capital  sport ;  but 
it  takes  a  great  deal  out  of  your  nag,  for  the  scoundrel, 
while  fresh,  will  double  almost  as  sharply  as  a  hare,  and 
from  his  v/onderful  lasting  powers  take  you  over  an  im- 
mense distance,  he  invariably  choosing  the  roughest  ground. 
In  this  mode  also  you  must  constantly  be  on  the  qui  vive, 
for  if  opportunity  offers  he  will  make  either  your  horse  or 
yourself  acquainted  with  his  grinders,  and  a  snap  from  him 
will  be  a  memento.  In  the  neighborhood  of  Fort  Riley  an 
accident  of  this  kind  almost  occurred  to  me.  A  large  gray 
wolf  jumped  up  before  me,  and  as  my  horse  was  fresh  and 
the  afternoon  cool  I  made  up  my  mind  for  a  run.  Draw- 
ing my  revolver,  and  taking  my  nag  in  hand,  we  were  soon 
skimming  the  prairie  at  a  slashing  pace.  After  a  mile  of 
this  work  I  ranged  alongside,  but  on  several  occasions  when 
about  to  press  the  trigger  the  w  olf  wheeled  sharply  to  the 
right  or  left,  once  very  nearly  throwing  my  nag  on  his  head. 
More  determined  to  draw  blood  from  the  trick  practiced 
on  me,  I  was  soon  again  at  his  tail ;  but  the  foe  tried  a 
new  and  quite  unexpected  ruse,  viz.,  suddenly  slackening 
his  pace,  and  as  I  overshot  him,  making  a  most  wicked 
snap  at  my  off  foot,  which  fortunately  was  protected  by  a 
heavy  cow-hide  boot;  but  the  indentation  shov/ed  that  a 
lighter  covering  would  have  caused  me  to  regret  my  prow- 


, 


, 


offir. 


If  ever  you  visit  the  Western  prairies  you  will  not  re- 


THE  imjOTCH  DOG. 


181 


gret  the  trouble  of  taking  with  you  some  good  strong  grey- 
hounds ;  the  rough  Scotch  dog  I  should  prefer,  for  you  will 
not  only  find  them  great  promoters  of  your  sport,  wolf-hunt- 
ing, but  useful  auxiliaries  in  pulling  down  wounded  deer,  as 
well  as  most  watchful  and  trustworthy  camp  guardians  and 
companions. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

FOXES. 

The  varieties  and  even  species  of  foxes  are  so  great  on 
the  Korth  American  continent  that  I  doubt  much  if  they 
have  ever  been  properly  classified  by  the  naturalist.  Go 
where  you  will  they  are  to  be  found.  Of  the  commoner 
species,  I  may  safely  state  that  I  have  killed  hundreds. 
So  in  the  following  I  will  allude  only  to  the  principal  of 
them.  For  a  long  period  I  had  resided  in  a  part  of  North- 
ern Canada  that  probably  supplies  as  many  of  those  ex- 
tremely rare  animals — the  Black  or  Silver  Fox — as  any  por- 
tion of  the  American  continent,  and  during  the  entire  length 
of  my  residence  was  constantly  associated  with  trappers, 
fur-traders,  et  hoc  genus  omne/  so  a  few  remarks  on  this 
scarce  and  valuable  animal  may  not  be  out  of  place. 

The  fabulous  sum  that  a  prime  black  fox  skin  is  worth 
causes  this  animal  to  be  universally  sought  after ;  the  tawny 
redskin  or  the  swarthy  half-bred  hunter,  when  he  discovers 
the  haunt  of  one  of  these  beauties,  never  ceases  day  or  night 
to  ponder  over  schemes  for  his  capture;  the  marten  and 
mink  traps  are  for  a  time  neglected,  and  every  artifice,  ev- 
ery trick  and  ingenuity  that  ever  entered  trapper's  brain, 
is  at  once  put  into  practice.  Nor  is  this  fox  less  wary 
than  his  confreres,  but  quite  the  reverse ;  and  I  believe  in 
the  current  opinion  that  there  is  no  animal  more  difficult 
to  circumvent.  Often  of  an  evening  I  have  listened  to  the 
broken  English  of  the  snake-eyed  aborigines,  or  the  curious 
patois  of  the  Canadian  habitant,  recapitulating  how  they 
all  but  succeeded  on  such  and  such  an  occasion,  or  were  re- 


' 


INTRODUCTION  OF  THE  BED  FOX. 


183 


warded  with  success  upon  another.  By  the  bright  glow  of 
a  wood -fire,  illuminating  the  unhewn  long  walls,  rough 
chinking,  and  shingle  roof  of  a  frontier  cabin,  the  cold  and 
bitter  night  being  made  doubly  severe  by  the  howling 
blasts  that  impetuously  rush  with  angry  noise  through  the 
disturbed  trees,  these  narratives  of  perseverance  and  hard- 
ship form  a  pleasant  way  of  passing  the  long  wintry  night. 
The  cup  goes  round,  the  pipe  is  smoked,  and  the  company, 
although  illiterate  and  unpolished,  possess  one  great  qual- 
ity— sincerity.  If  they  quaff  your  health  or  shake  your 
hand,  it  is  not  an  empty  form,  but  one  which  emanates 
from  genuine  friendship  and  unselfish  feelings. 

There  are  no  distinct  differences  between  the  black  and 
red  fox  excepting  color,  save  it  be  that  the  fur  of  the  for- 
mer is  much  finer ;  but  this  can  satisfactorily  be  accounted 
for  by  his  residence  being  always  in  much  colder  latitudes ; 
in  fact,  his  chief  resorts  appear  to  be  the  intermediate  space 
between  the  homes  of  the  red  and  Arctic  representatives. 
Nevertheless,  I  claim  that  he  is  of  different  species  from 
either  of  the  aforementioned.     My  reason  I  will  state. 

The  black  fox  has  been  known  in  North  America  since 
the  first  settlement  of  the  country.  We  hear  of  one  of  the 
Indian  chiefs  presenting  some  of  the  earliest  settlers  with  a 
skin  of  this  species,  as  a  mark  of  the  high  estimation  placed 
on  the  white  man's  friendship.  Not  so  with  the  red  fox  of 
at  least  the  eastern  portion  of  the  North  American  conti- 
nent. In  searching  over  some  old  works  among  the  admi- 
rable writings  on  natural  history  emanating  from  the  pen 
of  Postmaster-general  Skinner,  now  dead  many  years,  we 
learn  that  the  red  fox  was  introduced  into  the  State  of 
Maryland  from  England  considerably  over  one  hundred 
years  ago.  The  importer  was  no  other  than  the  gallant 
and  loyal  old  'soldier.  Colonel  Guy  Carlton^  whose  name  so 
conspicuously  appears  associated  in  all  the  efforts  made  by 


184 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


the  royal  troops  to  suppress  the  Revohitiou.  This  noble 
veteran  was  doubtless  a  hard-riding  and  enthusiastic  fox- 
hunter.  The  little  gray  fox  indigenous  to  the  country  did 
not  suit  his  exalted  ideas,  from  having  enjoyed  the  noble 
sport  at  home,  and  to  remedy  the  evil  he  went  to  the  trou- 
ble, and  doubtless,  in  those  days,  great  expense,  to  import 
the  larger,  gamer,  and  more  lasting  animal.  The  result 
was  the  success  he  so  eminently  deserved.  The  first  arri- 
vals were  turned  down  in  Maryland,  not  far  from  Balti- 
more. From  there  they  have  gradually  extended  north, 
south,  and  west,  marking  their  advent  by  the  gradual  an- 
nihilation of  the  gray  species.  I  have  had  the  pleasure  for 
some  years  of  enjoying  the  friendship  of  Colonel  Skinner, 
son  of  the  old  postmaster-general ;  from  him  I  learn  that  he 
frequently  heard  his  father  speak  on  this  subject,  and  that 
he  has  often  visited  the  spot  where  the  first  English,  or  red 
foxes,  were  released.  From  my  own  personal  experience  I 
can  state  a  circumstance  corroborative  of  the  fact,  that  with 
the  entrk,e  of  the  red  fox  into  any  section  of  country  the 
gray  species  either  migrates  or  perishes.  Some  years  since 
I  lived  in  a  hilly  portion  of  Southern  Illinois.  On  my  ar- 
rival the  little  gray  foxes  were  so  numerous  that  with  a 
moderate  pack  of  hounds  two  or  three  could  be  killed  daily. 
I  had  not  been  there  over  a  year  when,  to  my  surprise,  I 
jumped  up  a  noble  specimen  of  the  red,  while  deer-shootr 
ing.  From  that  date  the  gray  commenced  to  diminish, 
and  I  am  informed  by  reliable  authority  that  at  the  present 
time  not  a  single  representative  of  the  smaller  breed  is  to 
be  found  in  that  district.  Audubon,  an  authority  on  whom 
generally  the  greatest  reliance  can  be  placed,  regards  the 
black  and  red  fox  as  simple  varieties  of  the  same  species. 
Doubtless  he  never  heard  of  the  red  fox  being  a  foreigner, 
or  he  would  probably  have  agreed  in  the  decision  I  have 
come  to — knowing  the  truth  of  the  red  fox*s  introduction 


ANXIOUS  FOR  BLACK  FOX. 


185 


— that  the  black  and  red  fox  are  entitled  to  be  regarded  as 
representatives  of  different  species.  Nor  has  the  red  fox 
belied  his  ancestry  or  deteriorated  by  his  emigration.  The 
keen  and  persevering  fox -hunters  of  Virginia,  Kentucky, 
Tennessee,  Carolina,  and  Georgia,  give  him  the  credit  of 
being  the  most  lasting  and  difficult  animal  to  run  down 
that  the  forests  produce.  From  the  natural  differences  be- 
tween England  and  America,  fox-hunting  is  not  only  a  very 
dissimilarly  conducted  sport,  but  in  the  latter  associated 
with  more  labor  and  hardship.  The  woods  are  so  immense 
that  it  generally  results  in  cover-hunting  from  start  to  fin- 
ish ;  consequently  slower  hounds  require  to  be  used,  and 
every  advantage  of  Pug  taken.  At  dawn  the  field  assem- 
ble, so  as  to  catch  their  quarry  with  a  full  stomach,  and  it 
is  no  uncommon  thing  for  the  sun  to  have  reached  the  west- 
ern "horizon,  and  the  hunters  to  be  thirty  miles  from  home 
ere  the  death  wo-whoop  be  sounded. 

But  to  the  black  fox.  I  had  often  longed  to  capture  one 
of  these  beauties  during  my  boyish  residence  on  the  Amer- 
ican continent.  The  price  that  the  pelt  would  bring  was  a 
supply  of  pocket-money  that  I  could  see  no  end  to;  but 
once,  and  only  once,  during  that  visit,  had  I  the  fortune  to 
almost  realize  my  wish.  I  had  been  hunting  all  day  by  the 
margin  of  a  distant  lake.  Tired  and  unsuccessful,  about  the 
hour  of  sunset  I  approached  a  clearing  of  a  few  acres  in  the 
forest,  where  Indian  corn  had  been  grown  and  just  gather- 
ed into  shocks.  My  companion  was  a  little  half-bred  ter- 
rier, who  had  endeared  himself  to  me  from  his  sagacity  and 
obedience.  As  I  neared  the  brush  fence  which  surrounded 
the  opening,  with  the  habitual  caution  that  residents  in  wild 
lands  learn,  I  secreted  myself  behind  a  stump,  and  took  a 
careful  survey ;  for  deer  are  fond  of  corn,  so  are  bears,  as 
well  as  all  the  small  varieties  of  game.  I  had  not  remained 
thus  hidden  for  many  minutes  when  what  I  had  taken  for 


186 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


a  charred  stump  suddenly  became  animated,  and  remarka- 
ble were  the  movements  that  heralded  this  transformation. 
One  more  glance  told  me  it  was  a  fox  of  the  long-coveted 
species;  but  what  the  mischief  was  he  about?  mad  surely, 
and  for  this  reason,  no  creature  in  his  senses  could  other- 
wise make  such  a  fool  of  himself.  First  he  took  hold  of 
his  tail,  and  spun  round  like  a  kitten ;  next  moment  he  was 
turning  somersaults,  or  struggling  on  his  back,  kicking  his 
legs  in  the  air ;  then  the  tail-trick  was  reverted  to  again, 
and  so  on.  For  several  minutes  I  stood  transfixed ;  Pug 
was  too  far  ofE  to  shoot  at,  and  any  attempt  at  a  stalk  was 
too  dangerous  to  put  into  practice.  But  my  patience  was 
not  severely  taxed.  With  a  sudden  spring  the  fox  dashed 
forward ;  up  flew  a  dozen  spruce  grouse,  and  the  black-coat- 
ed gentleman,  with  a  bird  in  his  mouth,  quietly  trotted  to- 
ward cover,  giving  me  a  cross-shot  at  forty  yards'  range — 
a  chance  which  I  was  not  slow  to  avail  myself  of.  With 
the  report  Pug  turned  head  over  heels,  but  quickly  picked 
himself  up,  forgetting  however  his  prey,  and  made  for  the 
timber.  Hurriedly  I  gained  the  bird — small  consolation  for 
my  disappointment ;  but  my  hopes  were  again  revived,  for 
my  little  cur-dog  took  up  the  scent,  and  waking  the  echoes 
with  his  insignificant  bark,  went  ofE  as  if  he  intended  work. 
At  the  best  pace  I  could  command  I  followed,  singing  every 
few  strides  a  word  of  encouragement  to  my  trusty  compan- 
ion. Farther  and  farther  into  the  woods  I  advanced,  but 
soon  it  was  so  dark  that,  at  length,  with  barked  shins  and 
sundry  tumbles,  I  was  pbliged  to  give  up  the  pursuit.  Sev- 
.  eral  times  in  the  chase  I  came  to  a  stand-still,  and  as  often 
as  I  did  so,  Prince's  voice  appeared  as  if  he  had  brought 
the  foe  to  bay.  Halting  for  the  last  time  the  same  thing 
occurred,  and  as  the  dog  did  not  appear  to  be  much  over  a 
hundred  yards  distant,  I  determined  to  make  another  effort, 
which  resulted  in  no  better  success.    This  led  me  to  believe 


FOX-UUNTINO. 


187 


that  my  «log  came  up  with  the  fox,  and  brought  him  to  bay, 
but  as  the  latter  was  the  larger.  Prince  was  afraid  to  lay 
hold,  and  on  ray  advancing  too  close  to  the  belligerents 
Pug  would  make  off  again,  to  stop  when  he  thought  him- 
self out  of  harm's  way. 

Next  morning  I  instituted  a  search,  which  was  unsuc- 
cessful ;  but  a  week  afterward,  when  shooting  wood  grouse 
in  the  same  vicinity,  I  accidentally  came  across  the  carcass 
of  a  dead  black  fox,  partly  immersed  in  a  pool  of  stagnant 
water,  which  had  utterly  destroyed  what  must  have  been  a 
most  perfect  and  prime  pelt. 

Those  fond  of  fox-hunting  can  have  it  to  repletion  in  all 
parts  of  the  country ;  for  when  the  red  is  not  to  be  found, 
the  gray  fox,  kit  or  cross  fox,  and  swift  fox  take  their 
place. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

HARES. 

Although  it  is  common  in  America  to  hear  different 
species  of  hares  designated  by  the  name  of  rabbit,  this  is 
one  of  those  extraordinary  mistakes  in  nomenclature,  in 
reference  to  the  fauna  of  the  American  continent,  of  which 
I  have  previously  spoken ;  for  no  true  rabbit  is  to  be  found 
there,  except  in  a  state  of  domosii cation.  In  other  words, 
they  are  not  indigenous  to  the  land.  The  little  wood  hare, 
so  very  abundant  on  the  verge  of  cultivation  that  adjoins 
prairie  land,  might  well  have  been  confused  with  the  other 
rodent,  but  when  we  find  the  Townsend  hare  and  jackass 
hare,  both  remarkable  for  their  size  and  strongly-marked 
characteristics  of  race,  also  called  rabbits,  such  obviously 
erroneous  misnomers  appear  intentional,  and  therefore  cul- 
pable. 

The  little  wood  hare  is  to  be  found  in  large  numbers  in 
all  those  States  whose  rivers  are  tributaries  of  the  Missis- 
sippi, their  favorite  haunts  being  neglected — overgrown  old 
clearings  or  uncultivated  land  that  the  heavy  timber  has 
been  cut  off.  With  beagles  they  would. afford  admirable 
sport,  but  for  their  habit  of  seeking  shelter  when  pursued 
in  decayed  logs  or  hollow  trees,  tlie  claws  being  so  sharp 
that  they  can  ascend  the  cavity  in  the  interior  of  a  perpen- 
dicular girdling  from  ten  to  twenty  feet,  and  it  is  no  unu- 
sual occurrence  to  find  a  dozen,  or  even  more,  of  these  pret- 
ty little  creatures  in  the  same  retreat".  This  species  is  al- 
most unknown  in  Canada. 

The  sportsman,  wishing  to  make  a  bag  of  them,  should 


THE  LITTLE  WOOD  HARE. 


189 


use  very  small  shot,  say  No.  7,  for  they  require  but  slight 
injury  to  prevent  their  escape.  The  season  of  the  year  in 
which  the  greatest  reward  for  his  exertions  will  be  obtain- 
ed is  in  early  spring,  particularly  if  the  ground  retains  a 
covering  of  snow,  with  a  bright  warm  sun  overhead.  In 
the  valley  of  the  Wabash  on  such  a  day  I  have  frequently 
killed  over  fifty  in  an  afternoon.    In  the  State  of  Missouri, 


SWAMP   HARKS. 


near  Brookfield,  I  have  been  equally  successful.  In  fact, 
so  great  are  their  numbers  in  the  prairie  countries,  margin- 
ing timber  land,  that  any  ordinary  shot  can  do  the  same  in 
almost  any  portion  of  their  habitat.  The  changeable,  or 
swamp  hare,  is  also  abundant ;  but  does  not  frequent  the 
same  localities  as  the  last  mentioned,  being  partial  to  thick, 
low-lying  woodlands.  Its  southern  range  commences  about 
the  fortieth  degree  of  latitude,  terminating  about  the  fifty- 


190 


rRAIIilE  AND  FOREST. 


fifth,  ce<l.ar  and  hemlock  swamps  being  its  favorite  retreats. 
In  summer  this  animal  is  a  beautiful  bright  chestnut,  while 
in  winter  it  becomes  almost  entirely  white,  rendering  it  no 
easy  object  to  see  when  the  landscape  possesses  its  snowy 
covering.  With  hounds  it  affords  good  sport,  for  it  is 
lleet  and  enduring,  and  invariably  prefers  being  run  into, 
to  taking  shelter  in  tree-stump  or  rocky  fissure.  This  spe- 
cies has  frequently  been  confounded  with  the  blue  hare  of 
Scotland,  but  both  are  so  essentially  dissimilar  in  their  hab- 
its of  life  and  in  choice  of  haunts,  that  there  can  be  no  rea- 
son to  doubt  that  they  belong  to  separate  species.  How- 
ever, there  is  another  species  of  American  hare  found  upon 
the  barren  lands  about  the  sixtieth  degree  of  north  latitude, 
in  Labrador  and  Newfoundland,  which  I  would  not  be  sur- 
prised if  discovered  to  be  identical  with  the  white  hare  of 
Northern  Europe. 

The  jackass  hare  and  Townsend's  hare  are  very  similar 
in  appearance  and  habit,  the  former  being  larger  than  the 
latter;  the  habitat  of  the  first  being  to  the  east  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains ;  of  the  second,  to  the  westward,  and 
upon  the  plains,  verging  on  the  Apache  country,  in  Lower 
California.  Where  the  country  is  sufficiently  clear  for 
coursing,  doubtless  good  sport  could  be  obtained  with 
greyhounds,  as  they  are  I'eraarkably  swift  and  enduring. 
When  among  the  chaparral  or  wild  sage  they  have  so  little 
dread  of  man's  presence  that  they  will  almost  permit  them- 
selves to  be  kicked  out  of  their  form ;  from  this  circum- 
stance, for  shooting  them,  small  shot,  say  No.  6,  can  be  used 
to  the  greatest  advantage. 

The  aquatic  hare  is  alone  found  in  America,  the  savannas 
of  Georgia  and  South  Carolina  being  its  favorite  habitat ; 
Kentucky,  Southern  Indiana,  Illinois,  also  Tennessee,  pos- 
sess them.  However,  they  are  nowhere  sufficiently  numer- 
ous to  make  them  a  special  object  of  pursuit. 


THE  AQUATIC  JIA/iE. 


191 


My  introduction  to  this  aniniftl  I  will  relate.  A  little  be- 
fore sunset,  on  a  fine  calm  evening  in  March,  I  took  my 
stand  upon  a  bridge  crossing  a  slough  in  the  southern  por 
tion  of  Illinois,  with  the  hope  of  killing  a  few  wild  ducks. 
The  atmosphere  was  so  clear  and  still  that  the  birds  were 
very  late  in  visiting  their  feeding -ground.  While  impa- 
tiently trying  to  kill  time,  I  saw  something  swimming  in 
the  water,  and  supposing  it  to  be  a  common  American 
musk-rat,  and  being  desirous  of  a  new  tobacco-pouch,  I, 


MUSQUASH,  OR  AMERICAN   MUSK-RATS. 

well  hid  in  the  flags,  stealthily  stole  along  the  margin  of 
the  water,  to  endeavor  to  obtain  a  closer  shot,  for  the 
musk-rat  requires  a  tremendous  deal  of  killing.  Having 
knocked  over  my  game,  in  a  few  minutes  my  retriever  laid 
it  at  my  feet ;  but  imagine  my  surprise  when,  instead  of  a 
rat,  I  found  it  to  be  a  hare.  I  could  scarcely  believe  my 
senses,  but  seeing  is  believing.  Of  course  I  thought  that 
the  poor  creature  had  been  driven  to  water  to  avoid  a  foe, 
but  before  many  days  I  shot  several,  and  all  in  similar 


192 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


I 

h 


situations.  The  habits  of  this  new  vaiietv  I  now  made  a 
study,  and  found  that  they  were  amphibious,  sleeping  in 
forms  on  the  edge  of  the  morass  during  the  heat  of  the 
day,  and  feeding  before  sunrise  and  after  sunset  on  the  dif- 
ferent descriptions  of  water-plants.  Whether  this  hare 
was  able  to  dive  or  not  I  did  not  ascertain,  but  that  he  is 
a  most  expert  swimmer  there  can  be  no  doubt.  His  size 
is  the  same  as  that  of  our  common  wild  rabbit,  but  from 
his  build  being  thicker,  he  may  possibly  be  heavier.  His 
legs  are  short,  feet  large,  ears  small,  and  head  very  full  and 
round ;  color  dark  grayish-brown,  with  scarcely  any  white 
upon  the  scut,  and  the  fur  exceedingly  soft  and  fine.  I  fre- 
quently tested  his  qualities  on  the  table,  and  can  speak  in 
the  highest  approval  of  the  delicacy  and  delicious  flavor  of 
his  flesh,  which  is  much  lighter  in  shade  than  that  of  any 
other  of  the  same  family  with  which  I  am  acquainted.  The 
skin,  remarkable  for  its  thinness,  is  easily  removed  from  the 
carcass.;  but  great  care  must  be  taken  to  prevent  it  get- 
ting torn.  On  inquiring,  T  found  that  this  hare  was  well 
known  by  the  residents,  and  from  them  Igarned  that  it  bred 
once  a  year,  generally  producing  two  at  a  birth ;  and  that 
the  young  at  a  very  early  age  follow  their  mother  in  her 
sundry  aquatic  excursions  in  search  of  those  delicate  water- 
plants  that  form  their  staple  food. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

GKOUSE. 

There  are  supposed  to  be  upward  of  twenty  species  of 
grouse  upon  the  continent  of  North  America.  However, 
they  have  never  been  strictly  classified,  so  I  will  confine  my 
remarks  to  those  best  known,  commencing  with  the  pin- 
nated grouse,  prairie-chicken,  or  pi-iirie-hen,  for  by  all  these 
names  this  noble  bird  is  recognized  in  different  localities. 
During  my  sojourn  across  the  Atlantic  I  recognized  three 
distinctly  marked  varieties  of  this  species — two  only  differ- 
ing in  color  of  plumage  and  size ;  the  third  having  a  tail 
longer  by  some  inches  than  iis  confrhres^  and  terminating  in 
a  point.  This  last  has  its  habitat  in  higher  latitude  than 
the  others,  being  found  in  the  greatest  abundance  on  the 
plains  that  surroynd  the  Saskatchewan  River,  while  the 
former  are  common  to  all  the  prairie  countiy  of  the  States 
of  Indiana,  Illinois,  Iowa,  Minnesota,  and  Michigan,  even  as 
far  south  as  Texas.  The  flight  of  all  is  swift,  powerful, 
and  prolonged,  so  that  late  in  autumn,  when  the  young 
birds  have  reached  maturity,  a  mile  or  even  more  distance 
will  be  traversed  from  the  place  where  they  are  flushed  till 
they  think  proper  to  alight.  On  the  contrary,  early  in  the 
shooting  season,  they  will  lay  with  such  persistency  that 
many  efforts  of  both  dog  and  sportsman  will  bo  required 
before  they  can  be  induced  to  take  wing.  Their  pursuit  is 
followed  in  the  same  manner  as  that  of  red  grouse  upon 
Scotch  moors,  for  their  time  of  watering,  dusting,  and  feed- 
ing are  almost  identical.  At  the  commencement  of  the 
shooting  season  (which  I  believe  is  now  on  the  Ist  of  Sep- 

9 


i 


194 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


tember),  No.  7  shot  will  be  found  heavy  enough  to  do  ef- 
fective work,  but  later  on,  when  cold  nights,  accompanied 
by  rain  and  wind,  have  taken  place,  No.  5  should  be  used. 

The  first  pheasant  I  killed  in  China  I  thought  the  noblest 
game  bird  that  ever  I  had  pulled  a  trigger  upon,  and  truly 
he  was  a  beauty;  the  plumage  was  in  the  most  perfect 
state  —  the  neck  of  the  greenest  emerald,  the  ring  of  the 
purest  white,  the  tail  the  longest,  and  the  different  shades 
and  tints  of  wings  and  body  the  very  brightest  I  had  ever 
seen  in  one  of  the  species;  moreover,  he  weighed  nearly 
one-half  more  than  any  of  the  same  family  I  had  killed  at 
home,  and,  to  add  additional  appreciation,  the  shot  that 
brought  him  to  the  ground  was  a  difficult  one,  and  at  long 
range.  For  years  the  pheasant  of  the  southern  portion  of 
China  reigned  paramount  in  my  opinion ;  but  a  change  has 
come  over  my  ideas,  and  now,  superlative  before  ail  others, 
I  place  two  descriptions  of  American  game  birds,  and  this 
species  is  one  of  them.  What  days  of  pleasure  have  I  had 
in  the  pursuit  of  pinnated  grouse !  What  splendid  bags 
have  I  made,  and  on  such  ground  as  gave  my  darling  com- 
panion setters  the  very  best  opportunities  of  showing  their 
sagacity  and  careful  education  to  the  great-est  advantage ! 
In  alluding  to  the  ruffed  grouse,  I  have  stated  that  I  do 
not  believe  this  bird  (the  ninnated  grouse)  so  worthy  of  ac- 
climatization ;  and  why  ?  he  disregards  distance  in  his  late 
autumnal  flights ;  and,  therefore,  where  shooting  ranges  are 
limited  by  bounds,  unless  the  proprietors  on  every  side 
would  mutually  agree  for  their  protection,  I  fear  that  the 
labors  of  the  introducer  in  the  cause  of  acclimatization 
would  be  fraught  with  dissatisfaction.  But  for  all  that,  the 
pinnated  grouse  is  deserving  of  attention;  for  he  is  truly  a 
most  noble  bird,  and  affords  the  best  of  sport,  till  the  cold 
winds  preceding  winter  cause  them  to  pack,  in  the  same 
manner  as  our  red  and  black  game ;  when  their  weariness 


THE  PINNATED  GROUSE. 


195 


• 


becomes  so  great  that  naught  but  quick  shooting  and  Ely's 
green  cartridges  are  likely  to  help  the  laborer  to  produce  a 
bag  remunerative  for  his  toil.  That  this  bird  could  be  ac- 
climated here  in  England  tjicre  is  no  doubt,  for  he  is  capa- 
ble of  withstanding  great  changes  of  temperature;  is  not 
particular  as  to  choice  of  ground,  as  long  as  it  is  open,  and 
a  sufficiency  of  food  can  be  obtained. 

Although  its  range  now  is  confined  to  the  prairie  country 
of  the  United  States,  not  being  found,  with  two  exceptions, 
till  the  edge  of  the  Grand  Prairie  is  reached,  yet  formerly 
it  was  equally  abundant  all  over  the  open  lands,  on  the 
edge  of  the  Atlantic  sea-board  ;  still,  however.  Long  Island 
and  Martha's  Vineyard  possess  some  remnants,  who  long 
since  would  have  disappeared  but  for  the  protection  and 
care  of  the  land-owners,  who  h^ve  endeavored  to  prevent, 
if  possible,  their  extinction.  I  can  not  well  imagine  any 
place  so  bleak  in  winter  as  the  scrub  aplands  of  the  two 
aforementioned  islands,  unless  perhaps  Mull  and  Jura  on 
our  Scotch  coast.  The  bird  that  could  with  impunity  with- 
stand the  rigors  of  the  cold  in  the  former,  could  doubtless 
do  the  same  in  the  latter.  The  pinnated  grouse  pairs  in 
March,  and  generally  produces  from  twelve  to  fourteen 
young  at  a  brood ;  the  chicks  very  early  take  to  the  wing, 
but  their  flight  is  weak  and  short  until  they  are  more  than 
half-grown.  During  the  infancy  of  the  family,  the  courage 
and  artifice  of  the  parent  bird  to  intimidate  or  draw  off  in- 
truders is  worthy  of  notice.  At  first  she  will  fly  toward 
you  as  if  intent  on  doing  you  battle,  but  when  this  course 
has  failed,  she  will  retire,  droop  her  wings,  struggle  on  the 
ground,  only  just  keeping  beyond  your  grasp,  always  mov- 
ing in  a  direction  contrary  to  where  her  brood  are  hid 
until  parent  instinct  tells  her  that  the  children  are  safe, 
when  ^ddenly,  on  strong  wings,  she  will  start  for  a  dis- 
tant  flight.     The  facility   with   which  tlie  young  secrete 


/ 


1D6 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


themselves  is  most  surprising.  Frequently  have  I  got  un- 
expectedly into  the  centre  of  a  family,  when  Up  they  would 
vise,  like  a  flight  of  bees,  and  as  rapidly  drop  again ;  certain- 
ly you  see  the  exact  spot  on  which  they  have  alighted — 
that  tuft  of  gra^s,  you  believe,  most  surely  contains  one, 
but  search  as  you  will,  turn  over  carefully  every  blade,  look 
well  about  the  roots  —  all  is  useless,  for  no  fledgeling  will 
you  discover. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  pairing  season,  particularly 
if  the  weather  is  calm  and  cloudy,  the  male  birds  call  all 
day;  theii  note  resembling  the  lowing  of  a  cow,  which  can 
be  heard  distinctly  for  over  a  mile.  As  the  spring  ad- 
vances they  confine  this  habit  to  evening  and  morning,  but 
by  the  time  the  brood  is  hatched,  cease  it  altogether.  The 
peculiarity  of  the  call  of  the  males  of  this  species  is  such, 
that  once  heard,  it  is  diflicult  to  forget,  particularly  when 
softened  by  distance.  It  is  produced  by  forcing  the  air  out 
of  two  orange-colored  receptacles  placed  on  either  side  of 
the  throat,  and  which,  when  inflated,  are  as  large  in  cir- 
cumference as  a  man's  finger,  perfectly  free  from  feathers 
upon  their  surface,  but  hid  when  in  a  state  of  quiescence  by 
fan-shaped  bunches  of  hackles  that  completely  cover  them.* 

The  pinnated  grouse  is  about  the  size  of  our  pheasant. 
However,  they  differ  considerably,  those  birds  that  inhabit 
Southern  Illinois  .being  at  least  one-fourth  larger  than  those 
obtained  in  Minnesota,  Wisconsin,  and  the  North-west  prai- 
ries. They  are  of  a  beautiful  mottled  brown  and  fawn  color, 
frequently  with  white  finger-marks  on  the  upper  portion  of 
the  wings  and  back,  are  feathered  down  the  legs  to  the 
feet,  have  baautif uUy  set^on  small  heads,  with  a  slight  crest, 
and  bright  yellow  iris.  When  standing,  their  attitude  is 
very  erec^,  but  graceful.     On  being  flushed,  they  invariably 


♦  The  most  killing  hackles  for  tying  trout-flies. 


PRAIRIE-CHICKEN  SHOOTING. 


197 


cackle,  and  the  flight,  except  of  young  birds,  is  very  long. 
In  the  commencement  of  the  season,  and  in  fact  as  long  as 
the  weather  is  bright  and  mild,  they  lie  remarkably  well  to 
dogs;  but  severe  and  cold  weather  causes  them  to  pack 
and  become  wild.  However,  late  in  October,  or  even  in 
November,  if  you  should  hit  upon  a  warm,  summer-like  day, 
the  birds  will  become  so  disinclined  for  exertion  between 
the  hours  of  10  a.m.  and  3  p.m.  that  marvelous  bags  can  be 
made. 

As  food  this  bird  can  favorably  compare  with  any  of  the 
grouse  family,  but  is  dissimilar  in  one  respect  from  all  the 
others — that  the  sooner  it  is  cooked  after  being  killed,  the 
more  delicate  and  savory  it  will  be  found.  Even  the  skill 
of  Delmonico,  of  New  York,  the  justly-celebrated  restaurant 
proprietor,  with  all  his  knowledge  of  cuisine,  can  not  impart 
the  delicate  flavor  that  the  same  bird  would  have  from  the 
hands  of  the  most  ignorant  cook,  provided  it  were  served  a 
few  hours  after  being  killed. 

This  grouse  can  easily  be  domesticated.  Mr.  Audubon, 
the  naturalist,  for  some  time  kept  quite  a  number  in  a  wall- 
ed garden,  where  they  became  as  tame  as  domestic  fowls ; 
from  this  circumstance  I  do  not  believe  there  would  be  any 
difficulty  in  transporting  them  across  the  Atlantic.  To  gen- 
tlemen stocking  preserves,  or  desirous  of  being  able  to  show 
a  great  variety  of  game  upon  their  estate,  this  magnificent 
member  of  the  grouse  genus  ought  to  receive  attention. 

The  best  prairie-chicken  shooting  I  have  ever  had  was 
in  the  month  of  October ;  and  although  September  had 
been  both  wet  and  boisterous,  yet  the  birds  had  not  pack- 
ed, and  lay  well.  Day  after  day  I  killed  from  twenty  brace 
upward,  and  this  in  the  northern  portion  of  Illinois,  with  a 
fourteen-bore,  light-made,  twenty-six-inch-barreled  gun.  I 
have  little  hesitation  in  saying  that,  if  I  had  had  a  ten-boro, 
wliich  I  now  always  use  for  general  shooting  in  America, 


1 


198 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


my  score  would  have  been  at  least  double.  As  it  was  I 
saved  nearly  every  bird,  for  in  the  numerous  shipments 
which  I  made  to  a  wide  circle  of  acquaintances  I  did  not 
hear  of  one  arriving  at  its  destination  unfit  for  the  table. 
Now,  in  September  this  would  have  been  impossible, 
though  hours  had  been  spent  over  each  packing-case,  and 
the  expected  hamper  contained  at  starting  as  much  ice  and 
a  little  more  charcoal  than  game.  Some  knowing  hands 
profess  that  by  immediately  drawing  the  fowl  upon  being 
knocked  over,  and  stuffing  a  wisp  of  grass  in  the  cavity, 
putrefaction  will  be  delayed ;  but  what  an  agreeable  opera- 
tion to  have  to  perform !  Fancy  stopping  in  the  middle  of 
a  covey,  with  dogs  standing,  to  perform  the  functions  of 
the  kitchen-maid ! — the  humanity  or  refinement  of  the  pro- 
ceeding, the  afterward  loading  and  handling  your  handsome 
breech-loader  with  your  well-daubed  hands  !  or,  perhaps,  in 
a  fit  of  desperation,  caused  by  the  attack  of  some  blood- 
thirsty mosquito,  giving  your  nose  or  forehead  the  benefit 
resulting  from  your  labor !  But  it  is  too  horrible  to  think 
of.  All  these  drawbacks  can  be  warded  o£E  or  prevented 
by  not  shooting  till  the  weather  is  suitable ;  or,  bettei*  still, 
not  permitting  shooting  till  such  a  date  as  we  have  reason 
to  expeot  a  sufficiently  cool  temperature ;  making  it  action- 
able for  game-dealers  to  expose  for  sale  the  temporarily  for- 
bidden treasures  before  the  termination  of  the  close  season. 
Gentlemen  of  America,  if  you  wish  to  keep  game  abundant, 
and  near  home,  and  to  increase  and  preserve  the  fine  feel- 
ings that  should  imbue  the  breast  of  every  true  sportsman, 
devote  a  little  attention  to  this  important  point. 

Like  the  deer,  bear,  and  sundry  varieties  of  American 
game,  which  once  were  to  be  found  in  abundance  in  almost 
every  section  of  the  country,  so  was  the  prairie-chicken ; 
but  as  civilization  and  population  have  increased,  in  such  a 
ratio  their  numbers  have  diminished.     In  Kentucky,  forty 


ERRATIC  HABITS  OF  PliAIItlF-FOWL. 


J  99 


years  ago,  Ihcy  abounded ;  it  is  more  than  doubtful  that 
one  can  now  be  found  in  that  State.  The  pinnated  grouse 
has  abandoned  its  old  haunts,  like  the  Indian,  and  removes 
every  season  farther  to  the  westward,  to  avoid  the  society 
of  the  pale-faced  interloper.  Fortunately,  all  game  does 
not  thus  dread  the  stranger's  presence,  for  as  civilization 
increases  so  does  the  partridge,  and  the  familiar  call  of 
"  Bob  White  "  will  soon  entirely  supplant  the  deep,  musical, 
but  strange  booing  of  the  prairie-fowl  east  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi. 

To  get  sport  nowadays,  the  ultimate  western  edge  of  In- 
diana and  the  State  of  Illinois,  for  the  Eastern  sportsman, 
are  undoubtedly  the  nearest  points.  But  even  after  having 
traveled  thus  far,  if  you  desire  results  commensurate  with 
your  trouble,  rest  not  near  the  track  of  the  iron  horse,  but 
pursue,  to  the  right  or  left,  your  course  till  you  find  people 
who  still  talk  of  the  cars*  as  seven-day  wonders,  and  re- 
port as  a  mai'vel,  that  one  still  night,  a  month  ago,  Hans 
or  Jaques  heard  them  whistle.  When  such  originals  have 
been  found,  if  heavy  bags  are  desired,  till  then,  and  not  till 
then,  call  a  halt. 

The  prairie-fowl  are  very  erratic  in  their  habits,*  and  the 
situations  in  wliich  they  abound  one  season  may  be  almost 
entirely  deserted  the  next.  It  ha^  often  puzzled  me  to  ac- 
count for  this  strange  uncertainty  in  their  choice,  and  I 
have  thus  far  failed  to  satisfy  my  mind,  unless  the  burning 
of  the  grass,  or  inundations,  to  which  the  Western  country 
is  particularly  subject,  can  be  accepted  as  a  reason.  A  few 
years  ago  a  low  prairie  close  to  my  dwelling  was  most  am- 
ply stocked  with  prairie-fowl,  so  much  so  that  I  used  to 
limit  my  bag  to  one  dozen,  and  seldom  did  it  take  more 
than  an  hour  to  obtain  this  number.     Next  year,  on  the 


*  Railroads. 


200 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


1 ' 


I 


I 


same  land,  not  one  solitary  bird  was  to  bo  found.  Now, 
this  prairie  had  not  been  burned,  although  others  in  the 
vicinity  had  undergone  the  operation.  Early  in  the  season, 
before  the  young  have  attained  maturity,  and  ere  the  cold 
and  boisterous  winds  of  autumn  have  caused  them  to  pack, 
the  sportsman  must  indeed  be  a  bad  shot  who  can  not  tum- 
ble them  on  nearly  each  discharge,  for  they  are  easy  of  ap- 
proach, lying  very  close,  and  rising  and  flying  slowly,  with- 
out making  much  of  that  disconcerting  disturbance  so  ap- 
parent in  the  flushing  of  partridge  and  of  ruffed  grouse. 
Again,  the  ground  in  which  they  are  found  is  open  and 
clear  from  interruptions,  affording  an  abundance  of  time 
for  the  most  precise  and  formal  to  take  aim ;  but  after  the 
autumnal  equinoctial  gales  have  whistled  over  the  unpro- 
tected landscape,  and  the  sharp  night-frosts  have  changed 
the  verdant  leaves  to  a  vermilion  or  golden  hue,  rapid  and 
precise  shooting  is  required,  for  not  only  will  they  rise  at 
long  range,  but  take  hard  and  fair  hitting  to  bring  them 
down;  and  instead  of  finding  the  quarry  on  the  sun- 
warmed,  open,  grassy  slopes,  the  dense  tall  corn  will  be 
more  frequently  selected  as  their  chosen  retreat. 

Of  course,  the  farther  you  proceed  West,  the  nearer  you 
reach  the  ultimate  extremities  of  civilization,  the  greater 
will  be  your  prospects  of  heavy  bags,  and  more  particular- 
ly so  late  in  the  season,  as  the  population  being  sparse,  and 
the  intrusion  of  cattle,  sheep,  and  dogs  less  frequent,  the 
birds  still  continue  comparatively  tamer  than  in  the  more 
densely  settled  quarters.  However,  it  is  not  convenient  for 
all,  nor  even  would  many  choose  to  sacrifice  every  comfort 
for  the  sake  of  slaughter,  and  turn  a  pleasure  into  a  labor 
and  a  pursuit  of  discomfort ;  for  living  in  a  squatter's  hut 
is  scarcely,  as  an  old  friend  used  to  say,  "  what  it's  cracked 
up  to  be ;"  besides,  what  can  you  do  with  the  results,  a  very 
small  portion  of  which  will  satisfy  your  own  demands.    For 


u 


NECESSITY  FOR  GAME  LAWS. 


201 


my  part,  give  me  from  eight  to  ten  brace  daily,  with  means 
of  using  tliem,  to  the  most  tremendous  bags,  if  they  are  to 
be  thrown  away.  Not  many  years  since,  when  traveling 
through  a  remote  and  unfrequented  section  of  the  State  of 
Illinois,  I  came  across  a  party  of  young  men  who  were  dai- 
ly destroying  from  twenty  to  thirty  couple  per  gun ;  and  as 
the  season  was  warm,  and  the  connection  with  the  railroad 
difficult  and  uncertain,  when  asked  by  the  tavern-keeper 
what  they  intended  doing  with  their  game,  they  laughingly 
responded,  "  Throw  it  in  the  hog-pen ;"  and  for  upward  of 
a  week  they  continued  this  dastardly  behavior.  .  Can  it, 
then,  be  wondered  that  game  rapidly  diminishes,  when  per- 
sons are  to  be  found  capable  of  such  disgraceful  conduct? 
The  only  check  that  I  can  see,  is  the  organization  of  prop- 
er game-laws,  and  putting  their  enforcement  in  the  hands 
of  honest,  reliable  men,  who  will  see  them  carried  out  to 
the  very  letter,  the  violation  of  which  should  be  punishable 
by  heavy  fines,  the  greater  part  to  go  to  the  informer. 

Pinnated  grouse  are  very  capricious  in  choice  of  sites  on 
which  to  place  their  nests  ;  solitude  and  vicinity  to  favorite 
food  or  other  causes,  of  which  an  outsider  can  know  but 
little,  must  be  accepted  as  the  probable  reasons.  However, 
I  have  generally  observed  that  a  preference  is  shown  for 
those  places  where  the  prairie  is  covered  with  bunch-grass, 
particularly  if  the  subsurface  is  moist,  and  the  neighborhood 
not  overstocked  with  cattle.  This  bird  is  easily  caused  to 
desert  her  nest,  whether  the  intrusion  be  committed  by  man 
or  beast.  On  such  occasions  a  new  nursery  is  chosen,  and 
a  second  lot  of  eggs  laid ;  but  if  misfortune  should  deprive 
her  of  her  brood  after  the  young  have  left  the  egg,  all  idea 
of  raising  a  second  family  is  laid  aside,  and  the  chickless 
mother  joins  company  with  the  first  similarly  situated  un- 
fortunate she  may  chance  to  meet.  Odd  hen-birds,  when 
found  by  the   sportsman,  are  frequently  supposed  to  be 

9* 


202 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


barren,  but  in  nine  instances  out  of  ten,  I  am  satisfied  that 
some  luckless  cur-dog,  mink,  or  weasel  deserves  the  onus 
for  the  poor  bird's  broodless  lot. 

About  the  end  of  March  the  large  flocks  begin  to  break 
up  and  divide  into  parties  of  twenty  or  thirty,  each  detach- 
ment selecting  a  knoll  on  which  to  exhibit  their  fascinations 
to  the  fair  sex  or  select  partnei's.  On  the  first  glint  of  dawn 
the  males  utter  their  war-cry,  and  either  wait  to  receive  their 
rivals  in  love,  or  swiftly  wing  their  way  to  accept  the  clial- 
lenge  of  some  distant  gallant  The  fiercest  battles  now  en- 
sue.* Nor  is  it  only  between  two,  for  sometmies  a  dozen  may 
be  observed  engaged  in  the  'niUee,  each  fearlessly  attacking 
his  nearest  neighbor,  rising  and  striking  with  the  wings  and 
feet  much  after  the  manner  of  domestic  poultry,  when  feath- 
ers fly  and  severe  and  numerous  injuries  are  received,  till 
the  weaker,  finding  their  strength  inadequate  to  the  trial, 
reluctantly  retire,  and  some  old  veteran  alone  remains,  ex- 
hausted and  WJU" -stained,  to  make  selection  of  his  future 
mate.  Often  have  the  birds  been  found,  after  these  con- 
tests, so  exhausted  that  they  were  scarcely  able  to  rise  off 
the  ground  or  avoid  the  traveler's  feet.  And  well  do  the 
hawks  know  their  enfeebled  condition  after  such  tourna- 
ments, and  are  not  slow  to  avail  themselves  of  the  advan- 
tage, and  pounce  upon  the  unfortunate  conquerors,  who, 
but  for  their  now  exhausted  condition,  resulting  from  their 
prowess,  could  easily  have  avoided  the  relentless  destroyer. 

As  soon  as  the  victor  has  made  his  choice  he  retires. 
The  same  scenes  are  again  and  again  enacted  till  all  are 
mated. 

Like  the  turkey-cock  and  domestic  pigeon,  when  making 


*  Until  a  lute  date  I  believed  these  battles  were  a  description  of  tourna- 
ment, in  fuct,  all  for  show.  However,  this  is  not  the  case,  and  numbers 
of  the  combatants  get  severely  injured. 


NEST  OF  THE  PINNATED   GROUSE. 


203 


lovo  they  ruffle  their  feathers,  drop  their  wings  and  tails, 
and  strut  about  with  more  pomposity  than  ever  did  city 
beau. 

The  nest,  which  is  generally  placed  upon  the  top  of  a 
hillock  among  the  long  grass,  in  shape  is  irregular,  but  on 
examination  it  will  be  found  carefully  constructed  of  leaves 
and  interwoven  grasses.  The  eggs  are  a  trifle  smaller  than 
those  of  the  domestic  fowl,  and  are  of  a  dull,  yellowish  col- 
or, much  resembling  those  of  the  ruffed  grouse.  In  eight- 
een or  nineteen  days  they  are  hatched,  and  the  chicks  leave 
their  nest  immediately  afterward.  From  this  period  the 
female  is  deserted  by  her  mate,  and  until  severe  weather 
causes  them  to  pack,  the  old  males  and  females  are  not 
found  again  together. 

By  the  first  week  in  August  the  young  are  capable  of 
short  flights,  although  not  exceeding  our  partridge  in  size ; 
and  if  shot  thus  early,  which  is  too  frequently  the  case,  it 
is  difficult  to  imagine  more  delicious  food.  But  they  will 
not  bear  keeping,  and  sooner  taint  than  any  other  game 
bird  I  am  acquainted  with. 

Although  the  pinnated  grouse  seldom  leave  tlie  open 
country,  yet  if  winter  be  excessively  severe  they  will  fre- 
quent the  edges  of  the  timber,  roosting  on  the  tallest  trees, 
more  particularly  girdlings,  or  those  destitute  of  small  limbs. 
Under  such  circumstances  they  are  exceedingly  wild,  and 
the  most  successful  deer  or  turkey  hunter  may  practice  all 
his  cunning  and  most  cautious  methods  of  approach  with 
signal  failure  in  getting  even  within  rifle  range.  However, 
in  a  snow-storm,  by  putting  white  clothes  on,  or  a  night- 
gown over  your  attire,  and  tying  a  towel  around  your  head, 
with  facility  the  gunner  can  get  within  ten  or  fifteen  yards 
of  them.  ^ 

When  flushed,  prairie -chiclfen  invariably  utter  several 
separate  clucks,  but  after  they  have  succeeded  in  placing 


204 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


a  safe  distance  between  thentselves  and  the  intruder  tliey 
continue  their  course  in  silence;  nor,  if  wlien  on  the  wing 
they  should  chance  to  fly  over  a  sportsman,  do  they  repeat 
their  note  of  alarm. 

Their  favorite  food  is  buckwheat,  corn,  oats,  wheat,  and 
grass-seed,  tlie  buds  of  fruit-trees,  and  the  seed  of  the  sumac. 

Their  size  is  eighteen  inches  long  by  twenty-seven  inches 
across  the  wings :  bill  short,  stout,  and  curved,  with  the 
upper  mandible  considerably  overlapping  the  lower;  legs 
feathered  to  the  ankle ;  feet  of  ordinary  size ;  toes  covered 
above  with  numerous  small  scales;  hind  toes  very  short; 
claws  moderately  long,  curved  and  concave  beneath  ;  feath- 
ers compact,  those  of  the  head  and  neck  long  and  flexible, 
with  a  continuation  tapering  to  a  crest  on  back  of  head ; 
on  either  side  a  tuft  of  fine  long  hackles,  covering  a  bare 
portion,  which  is  orange-colored  in  the  males  and  dull  brown 
in  the  females ;  the  wings  short  and  much  rounded ;  pin- 
feathers  hard  and  short ;  tail  short  and  composed  of  eight- 
een broad  feathers ;  bill  dusky ;  iris  yellow ;  toes  dull  yel- 
low ;  claws  bluish  ;  the  neck  and  upper  portion  of  back  dark 
brown,  mixed  with  gray,  getting  lighter  beneath  ;  tail  dirty 
brown,  tipped  with  white,  except  the  middle  feathers,  which 
are  mottled  with  a  deep  brown ;  and  a  dark  line  from  man- 
dible to  eye,  thence  back  to  neck,  and  a  beautiful  patch  of 
soft  slate-colored  feathers  under  each  wing,  invaluable  to 
the  fly-tyer — is  a  correct  description  of  their  appearance. 

The  following  are  the  events  of  a  day's  shooting  on  the 
Grand  Prairie,  which  occurred  a  few  years  since,  and  may 
be  considered  as  a  sample  of  the  average  sport  to  be  en- 
joyed in  the  month  of  October : 

On  rising  from  the  breakfast-table  we  found  the  team 
waiting.  But  few  minutes  were  necessary  to  stow  our 
traps,  and  get  under  way.  Near  the  confines  of  the  village 
(Kent,  Indiana)  we  found  birds;  but  our  driver  (who  was 


A  MERRY  CHARIOTEER. 


205 


•         A. 


a  rcgiilfvi-  Tom  Draw)  would  not  allow  us  to  alipfht,  iiisist- 
ing  that  we  must  go  tirst  to  our  intended  8j)orting-ground. 
About  forty  minutes  took  us  there,  our  charioteer  beguil- 
ing the  time  with  innumerable  anecdotes  and  songs,  never 
being  silent  for  a  moment.  One  ditty  ho  was  particularly 
attached  to,  which  I  can  scarcely  forget,  he  having  sung  it 
at  least  a  dozen  times : 

"My  heiilth  and  wealth  declining,  , 

The  doctor  was  called  in  ; 

lie  spoke  to  me  so  serious — 

He  spoke  to  me  so  plain — 

'You've  racked  vour  constitution 

By  getting  drunk  again.'" 

However,  the  warniiiLf  that  the  medical  attendant  appears 
to  have  given  him  seo  1  to  be  thrown  away,  for  he  drank 
more  spirits,  with  nv  gusto,  and  that  without  showing 
the  effect,  than  any  representative  of  the  genus  I  ever  pre- 
viously met. 

Arriving  on  the  ground,  we  determined  to  hunt  Beau 
and  Belle,  and  keep  Jock  and  Fan  for  the  afternoon.  Leav- 
ing our  wagon  by  the  side  of  an  Osage  orange  hedge  sepa- 
rating the  prairie  from  a  large  corn-field,  and,  having  insert- 
ed cartridges  in  each  barrel,  we  commenced  work.  The 
ground  we  intended  first  beating  was  rolling  prairie,  with 
a  sufficiency  of  grass  on  it  to  make  the  walking  good,  and 
the  cover  tolerable.  My  companions  and  self  stretched 
into  line  and  started  with  the  wind  in  our  faces.  Before 
progressing  a  hundred  yards  Belle  set  dead  as  a  statue, 
and  Beau  immediately  backed.  Steadily  we  walked  up  to 
the  dogs,  expecting  immediately  to  commence  fire  upon  a 
pack  of  grouse ;  but  what  was  our  disappointment  to  find 
that  the  dogs  were  standing  to  a  covey  of  partridge  scarce- 
ly half-grown ;  so  we  let  the  young  ones  go  without  mo- 
lestation, and  continued  our  range.     Cur  previous  forbear- 


;;  P 


206 


PliAIMIE  AND  FOREbT, 


auce  was  soon  rewarded,  for  a  hundred  yards  farther  our 
setters  again  drew  on  game,  Beau  now  having  the  lead. 
Up  we  went,  and  although  alongside  the  dogs,  nothing 
showed.  By  coaxing  they  advanced  farther,  and  lay  down. 
There  was  no  mistake  now;  this  in  "ication  I  seldom  knew 
to  fail.  Short  was  the  period  of  suspense,  for  up  the  grouse 
commenced  rising,  not  all  together,  but  by  twos  and  threes. 
Each  gun  killed  two  birds  at  the  fi'-st  fire,  and  not  being 
delayed  in  loading,  our  dogs  were  soon  ordered  to  retrieve. 
Belle  had  not  gone  five  paces  to  perform  this  duty  when 
she  again  stood,  and  bang,  bang,  from  all  our  guns  fol- 
low'cd ;  in  five  minutes  we  had  fifteen  birds  on  the  ground, 
aud  more  flushing  every  moment.  What  luck  we  were  in ! 
We  had  evidently  got  out  of  bed  on  the  right  side  that 
morning,  and  were  in  for  a  big  day  s  work.  While  retriev- 
ing the  birds  two  more  fe.  to  our  aim,  making  seventeen 
out  of  the  covey — a  pretty  good  account ;  and,  better  still, 
those  that  had  not  been  shot  at  did  not  continue  their  flight 
more  than  tv^o  handred  yards,  when  they  lit  on  the  broAv 
of  a  sunny  bank.  Having  bagged  our  game,  and  handed 
them  to  Hank  (for  that  was  our  charioteer's  name)  wc 
hunted  ujj  the  survivors,  and  soon  were  at  work  again ;  the 
dogs  struck  them  ofif  at  once,  and,  save  that  two  escaped, 
who  were  out  of  bounds,  and  took  a  lengthened  journey  out 
prairieward,  we  bagged  all. 

Our  charioteer  now  returned,  and  gave  us  the  satisfactory 
information  that  there  were  plenty  more,  but  at  the  same 
time  adding,  "Look  you  here,  jist  leave  some  to  breed." 
We  found  that  our  fat  friend  was  correct,  for  before  ten 
minutes  we  were  again  enfilading  a  second  covey.  I  must 
tell  you  how  splendidly  Beau  found  this  pack.  When  ran^ 
ing  two  hundred  yards  off,  at  his  usual  swinging  gallop,  he 
stopped,  and  sticking  his  old,  knowing  head  perpendicularly 
in  the  air,  commenced  walking  straight  forward,  with  a  del- 


i 


A  BIO  DAY 'a   WORK. 


207 


\ 


icate,  careful  step,  well  suited  for  progression  over  eggs. 
As  I  had  seen  him  do  so  previously,  I  knew  vvhat  was  com- 
ing, and  called  my  friends'  attention,  so  that  they  might 
gradually  close  up  toward  the  keen -nosed  setter.  Belle 
soon  saw  what  Beau  was  up  to,  and  followed  him  with 

equally  cautious,  gingery  steps.    II ,  who  was  off  on  my 

right,  flushed  a  bird,  which  he  cleverly  cut  down  with  his 
first  barrel,  making  a  very  pretty  cross-shot.  But  where 
were  the  dogs  ?  Both  down  in  the  grass  waiting  for  us  to 
come,  nor  could  they  be  persuaded  to  leave  the  game  they 
were  on  to  find  the  victim  first  killed.  After  looking  for  a 
few  moments,  we  gave  it  up,  I  marking  the  place  as  near  as 
I  knew  by  dropping  my  white  pocket-handkerchief,  intend- 
ing to  return  as  soon  as  I  had  learned  what  the  dogs  had 
found.  As  we  advanced.  Beau  and  Belle  rose,  and  contin- 
ued drawing  for  near  a  hundred  paces  more,  when  they 
stood.  Oh,  that  some  artist  had  been  there  to  sketch  them 
on  the  spot !  Kothing  would  I  grudge  for  the  picture. 
The  attitude  of  setter  or  pointer,  when  standing,  is  to  me 
the  personification  of  grace  and  beauty;  and  these  were 
two  of  the  handsomest  of  the  breed  that  ever  gun  wan 
fired  over.  Well,  the  old  story  :  the  birds  were  put  up, 
so  packed  that  we  all  had  difficulty  in  singling  them ;  five 
more  fell  to  our  lot;  the  others,  after  going  about  sixty 
rods,  dropping,  scattered  among  a  thick  growth  of  iron- 
weed.  The  dogs  must,  on  this  occasion,  have  winded  their 
game  at  least  several  hundred  yards  off,  so  strong  is  the  ef- 
fluvium emitted  by  this  game  and  noble  bird. 

The  majority  of  the  last  brood  we  killed ;  so,  ere  noon 
had  arrived,  our  bag  consisted  of  seventy  head  of  prairie- 
chicken  fairly  bagged. 

Hank  selected  a  well-suited  place  for  our  meal,  and  with 
otium  sine  dignitate  wi?  passed  the  meridian  hours  of  tlie 
day,  happy  and  contented,  at  peace  with  all  men,  and  con- 


■HI 


208 


ntAJRIE  AND  FOREST. 


scions  of  the  pleasure  of  successfully  following  an  innocent 
pursuit. 

We  remained  under  the  hedge  till  after  two  o'clock,  eat- 
ing, chatting,  and  smoking,  our  irrepressible  driver  relating, 
in  the  most  facetious  manner,  several  most  amusing  anec- 
dotes of  his  previous  career ;  but,  as  the  western  sun  com- 
menced to  elongate  its  shadows,  and  the  afternoon  breeze 
to  cool  the  atmosphere,  a  start  was  agreed  upon,  and  with 
one  accord  each  rose  and  sliouldered  his  gun,  intent  on  do- 
ing good  shooting  and  farther  swelling  the  capacity  of  our 
already  distended  game-bags.  The  fresh  brace  of  dogs 
were  uncoupled,  and,  amidst  the  discordant  notes  and 
piteous  whining  of  our  discarded  morning  favorites,  we 
started  for  the  beat. 

The  ground  w^e  were  about  to  hunt  exactly  resembled  in 
appearance  and  vegetation  what  we  had  traversed  in  the 
morning,  and  our  anticipations  of  sport,  from  former  expe- 
rience, were  up  to  the  boiling  ■  point.  However,  we  must 
have  walked  quite  an  hour  before  eitlier  obtained  a  shot, 
although  the  slut  ran  up  two  birds,  for  which  she  got  a 
severe  rating.  In  prairie-chicken  shooting  I  have  frequent- 
ly observed,  and  on  this  occasion  it  was  a  corroboration  of 
the  fact,  that  during  the  heat  of  midday,  or  immediately 
afterwrrd,  pinnated  grouse  are  seldom  or  never  to  be  found 
near  cultivation ;  why,  I  can  not  say,  but  they  always  ap- 
pear in  an  unaccountable  manner  to  have  transferred  them- 
selves to  the  uninterrupted  prairie. 

Our  lengthened  tramp  had  now  brought  us  to  ground 
more  irregular,  with  vegetation  more  rank,  and  sparsely 
sprinkled  with  dwarf  osier  and  willow,  the  surface  being 
damp,  and  occasionally  intersected  with  rivulets.  Our 
spirits  were  all  bef'oming  depressed  from  our  want  of  suc- 
cess, and  even  a  npw  beat  had  been  proposed,  and  was  on 
the  eve  of  being  accepted,  when  both  dogs  stood,  not  ten 


THE  RUFFED   OROUSE. 


209 


yards  apart,  and  each,  apparently,  on  different  birds.  This 
pleasing  incident  revived  our  drooping  spirits,  and  with 
steady,  regular  .stride  we  approached  them.  When  we  got 
up  three  birds  flushed,  which  were  immediately  cut  down ; 
still  another,  and  another,  met  the  same  fate ;  and  in  less 
than  five  minutes  nine  were  on  the  ground.  These  were 
without  difficulty  retrieved,  and  the  dogs  ordered  on  to  find 
more ;  scarce  a  hundred  yards  had  they  ranged  when  they 
a  second  time  found  game,  the  slut  leading  and  the  dog, 
just  at  her  shoulder,  backing.  It  was  perfectly  evident 
that  we  had  discovered  the  retreat  of  the  prairie-chickens. 
Water  or  solitude  had  undoubtedly  caused  them  to  assem- 
ble here. 

Soon  we  got  to  the  dogs,  and  never  in  the  course  of  my 
experience  did  I  see  a  sharper  half-hour's  work.  Bird  after 
bird  rose,  and  was  knocked  over ;  scarcely  had  we  time  to 
thrus^  into  the  breeches  fresh  cartridges  before  we  were 
called  upon  to  deliver  our  fire ;  not  less  than  a  hundred  and 
fifty  birds  must  have  been  flushed  in  that  space  of  time,  out 
of  which  number  nearly  half  feP  to  our  guns.  At  one  mo- 
ment, over  twenty  were  on  the  ground,  waiting  to  be  pick- 
ed up;  and,  better  than  all,  we  did  not  lose  a  single  cripple, 
altho'igli  one  old  cock,  which  had  only  been  pinioned,  cost 
us  some  minutes'  labor  before  being  bagged. 


RUFFED    GROUSE. 

Contrary  to  the  last  described  species,  this  worthy  mem- 
ber of  a  noble  family  loves  the  woodland  glades  and  rocky 
hill-sides.  The  vci'ge  of  the  prairie  he  may  occasionally 
visit,  but  let  him  be  disturbed,  his  fears  excited,  like  arrow 
from  bow  he  will  wing  his  way  direct  to  the  friendly  shel- 
ter of  the  forest. 

But  all  woods  do  not  suit  the  fastidious  taste  of  this 
beauty;  for  when  there  exists  only  the  fat,  damp,  slimy 


210 


PBAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


bottom -laiuls  that  margin  so  many  of  the  South  -  western 
rivers,  he  is  not  to  be  found.  No,  rolling  country  and 
hilly  spurs  are  his  home,  where,  deep  in  the  shelter  of  the 
laurel,  cedar,  hemlock,  hazel,  and  birch,  he  can  laugh  at  his 
pursuers,  unless  they  arc  the  very  quickest  and  best  of  shots. 
But  I  allude  to  where  he  has  known  man,  and  learned  to 
dread  his  presence  as  ominous  of  evil ;  for  when  such  is  not 
the  case,  if  flushed,  they  are  often  satisfied  to  settle  upon 
the  first  tree  in  the  neighborhood,  regarding  the  i  itruder 
with  looks  of  wonder,  and  remain  gratifying  their  excited 
curiosity  till  the  whole  covey  have  been  shot  in  detail. 
Throughout  Canada  West  they  are  numerous.  At  the 
northern  end  of  Lake  Simcoe  I  found  them  very  abundant, 
also  on  the  hill-sides  that  cradle  in  the  lovely,  peaceful 
Lake  Umbagog,  in  Oxford  County,  Maine ;  but  Western 
Maryland  and  Virginia  are  also  favorite  haunts — in  fact,  it 
may  be  found  everywhere  where  wood,  water,  and  hill-side 
combine  to  form  for  it  a  suitable  haunt,  between  thirty-two 
and  fifty  degrees  of  north  latitude.  No.  6  shot  I  prefer  for 
shooting  ruffed  grouse,  as  from  the  nature  of  the  ground 
on  which  they  are  found,  more  birds  are  killed  at  short 
range  than  at  longer  distances. 

The  characteristics  of  the  ruffed  grouse  make  them  bet- 
te"  adapted  for  a  residence  in  England  then  the  prairie-hen  ; 
and  so  strongly  am  I  disposed  in  their  favor,  that  I  believe 
if  once  introduced  they  would,  as  soon  as  known,  outrival 
the  pheasant  in  popularity,  being  much  hardier,  swifter  on 
the  wing,  lying  better  to  dogs,  disinclined  to  run  before 
flushing,  requiring  the  quickest  and  straightest  aim  to 
bring  them  to  bag :  moreover,  independent  of  these  sport- 
ing perfections,  they  are  not  much  inferior  to  the  Oriental 
favorite  in  beauty  of  plumage. 

The  ruffed  grouse  a  little  exceeds  the  red  grouse  of  Scot- 
land in  size,  being  almost  eighteen  inches  in  length,  is  very 


I 


e 


HABITS  OF  THE  RUFFED  0 ROUSE. 


211 


handsome  and  npright  in  form,  of  a  beautiful  rich  chestnut- 
brown  color,  variegated  with  gray  and  dark  spots,  and  pen- 
cilings  on  the  back,  breast,  and  neck.  The  tail  is  gray, 
with  a  black  bar  across  it  near  its  termination,  and  is  gen- 
erally carried  open,  like  a  fan.  On  the  top  of  the  head 
there  is  a  slight  crest,  and  down  each  side  of  the  neck  are 
curious  fan -shaped   tufts  of  glossy  black  velvet  -  looking 


RUFFED   GROUSE. 


feathers.  In  April  these  birds  pair,  but  I  should  imagine, 
fi'oni  the  seasons  in  the  northern  portion  of  the  United 
States  and  Canada  being  more  backward  than  ours,  if  they 
were  introduced  here  they  would  do  so  a  month  earlier. 
They  lay  from  ten  to  sixteen  eggs,  their  nest,  which  is  a 
very  primitive  one,  being  generally  secreted  in  brush  or 
under  the  shelter  of  a  fallen  log.  They  are  most  affection- 
ate parents,  and  use  the  same  artifices  as  the  wild  duck  to 
draw  away  the  intruders  from  the  vicinity  of  their  youth- 
ful progeny.    This  grouse  has  two  distinct  calls,  one  a  soft, 


212 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


mellow,  prolonged  note,  generally  used  in  gathering  after 
the  covey  has  been  broken  up ;  the  other  an  extraordinary 
drumming  sound,  made  by  the  cocks  in  the  pairing  season, 
and  capable  of  being  heard  in  still  weather  a  great  dis- 
tance. The  latter  noise  is  caused  by  the  rapid  vibration 
of  the  wings  when  the  male  is  perched  on  a  fallen  tree  or 
stump.  Indiscriminately  they  live  on  a  great  variety  of 
food — ants,  grubs,  alder-ben  les,  wild-cherries,  and  grain  be- 
ing their  favorite  diet.  Early  in  autumn,  when  the  weath- 
er is  fine,  particularly  in  the  morning  and  evening,  they  will 
be  found  in  the  open  cultivation,  more  especially  if  there  be 
rough  ground  with  brush  in  the  vicinity ;  but  as  severe 
weather  approaches,  the  woods  will  become  their  constant 
resort.  In  shooting  the  ruffed  grouse,  great  difficulty  is 
always  experienced  in  marking  them.  Their  flight,  as  I 
have  previously  said,  is  wonderfully  rapid,  and  they  have 
a  method  of  doubling  back  in  the  reverse  direction  to 
which  they  started  ;  however,  as  they  do  not  generally  go 
far  (about  three  or  four  hundred  yards),  with  patience  and 
a  selection  of  the  nearest  irregular  ground  which  has  young 
timber  upon  it,  or  the  densest  brush  that  is  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, a  second  opportunity  will  probably  occur  of  bring- 
ing more  of  the  family  to  bag.  In  many  portions  of  the 
United  States  and  Canada  they  are  known  by  the  misno- 
mers of  partridge  and  pheasant.  Frequently,  when  trout- 
fishing  in  the  wilds  of  the  State  of  Maine,  I  have  come  sud- 
denly upon  them,  when  they  would  rise  into  the  nearest 
tree,  and  remain  with  unconcern  watching  me ;  from  evi- 
dent curiosity  they  would  stretch  their  necks  and  get*  into 
all  kinds  of  grotesque  attitudes;  and  so  little  would  they 
then  regard  the  report  of  a  gun  that  I  have  known  pot- 
hunters kill  quite  a  number  of  the  same  family  by  always 
shooting  the  lowest  birds  first.  But  when  the  ruffed  grouse 
becomes  familiar  with  man  he  is  perfectly  cognizant  of  the 


ItUFFED  OMOUSE  AS  FOOD. 


213 


danger  of  being  in  his  proximity.  Although  before  clogs 
they  lie  close,  their  color  harmonizes  so  well  with  that  of 
the  ground,  that  it  is  next  to  impossible  to  see  them  before 
they  are  on  the  wing. 

In  the  undergrowth  which  springs  up  in  that  portion  of 
the  country  where  the  timber  has  been  destroyed  by  fire,  I 
ever  found  thera  very  abundant,  it  being  almost  impossible 
to  wander  half  a  mile  through  such  openings  without  flush- 
ing a  covey.  As  these  generally  occur  in  the  lumber  re- 
gions, where  the  winters  are  particularly  long  and  rigor- 
ous, far  exceeding  in  severity  those  of  Scotland,  the  hardi- 
ness of  this  bird  can  not  be  doubted.  In  the  Alleghanies 
and  all  the  southern  ranges  of  hills  of  the  U  lited  States  it 
is  also  abundant,  where,  if  the  winters  are  i  js  severe,  the 
heat  in  summer  is  sometimes  excessive,  proving  that  the 
rufEed  grouse  is  capable  of  enduring  great  varieties  of  cli- 
mate. 

The  palate  of  the  most  fastidious  epicure  can  not  fail  to 
be  gratified  with  the  appearance  of  this  game  on  the  table, 
the  flesh  being  extremely  delicate,  with  a  strong  flavor  of 
our  red  grouse.  I  have  eaten  it  cooked  in  every  conceiva- 
ble manner,  and  whether  it  be  simply  roasted  over  a  camp- 
fire,  or  form  a  portion  of  an  omnium  gatherum  stew,  it  will 
be  found  alike  acceptable.  Although  scarcity  of  food  may 
compel  this  grouse  to  change  its  beat,  still  it  is  not  migra- 
tory, as  stated  by  some  naturalists.  This  supposition  has 
arisen  from  their  being  found  in  great  numbers  during 
summer  and  autumn  on  the  scrub  barren  land,  which  they 
leave  as  soon  as  the  more  severe  weather  commences,  for 
the  shelter  of  the  dense  timber.  A  family  of  these  birds  I 
was  acquainted  with  for  a  year.  On  their  range  there  was 
an  abundance  of  food  and  water,  and  during  that  period  I 
could  always  find  them,  their  home  being  a  little  hilly  isl- 
and in  the  prairie,  covered  with  timber  and  brush,  and 


!l   1 


214 


PRAIItlE  AND  FOREST. 


detached   from    any   irregular  land    by   several   miles    of 


i 

e 

t 

* 

t 

\ 

I 
t 


grass. 


Some  authorities  have  placed  woodcock-shooting  first  in 
the  list,  and  called  it  the  fox-hunting  of  those  pleasures  in 
which  the  dog  and  gun  form  the  chief  accessories.  As  far 
as  present  British  field-sports  are  concerned,  I  believe  they 
are  correct,  but  should  the  ruffed  grouse  be  introduced,  and 
Englishmen  experience  the  suddenness  of  their  rise,  the  ve- 
locity and  irregularity  of  their  flight,  the  uncertainty  of  their 
movements,  and  the  beauty  and  size  of  this  game  when  bag- 
ged, they  would  assuredly  insert  a  saving  clause.  I  doubt 
not  many — I  believe  all — of  the  warm  admirers  of  shooting 
will  agree  with  me  that  there  is  a  superior  pleasure  in  mak- 
ing a  mixed  bag  —  now  a  mallard,  next  a  woodcock,  per- 
chance thirdly  a  partridge,  and  so  forth — loading  your  dis- 
charged barrel,  scarcely  knowing  at  what  description  of 
game  it  will  be  used :  thus  a  reason  for  their  introduction 
to  England. 

If  the  inhabitants  of  the  British  Islands  can  boast  of 
their  pheasant  and  grouse,  the  Americans  can  in  equal  jus- 
tice laud  their  ruffed  grouse  and  Virginian  ortyx. 

CANADIAN  OR  SPKUCE  GROUSE. 

Even  to  the  red  iris  around  the  eye,  so  much  does  this 
bird  resemble  the  red  grouse  of  Scotland  that  it  would  be 
pardonable  for  any  one  who  had  not  well  known  the  lat- 
ter to  confuse  it  with  the  former.  Although  the  Canadian 
grouse  and  ruffed  grouse  are  occasionally  found  upon  the 
same  range  of  country,  the  habitat  of  the  former  commences 
where  that  of  the  latter  ceases,  and  extends  up  to  almost 
the  sixtieth  degree  of  north  latitude.  Although  occasion- 
ally flushed  in  packs,  they  are  more  frequently  seen  "in  pairs, 
and  the  denser  the  cover  and  more  swampy  the  soil,  the 
more  abundant  will  they  be  found.    So  little  do  these  birds 


THE  PTARMIOAK 


215 


dread  a  liiiman  being,  that  they  will  often  remain  perched 
upon  a  111  lib  till  a  snare  on  the  end  of  a  rod  can  be  passed 
over  their  heads.  This  trustfulness  of  man's  good  inten- 
tions toward  them  seriously  militates  against  the  amuse- 
ment they  would  otherwise  afford  the  sportsman.  By  the 
residents  of  the  localities  this  bird  inhabits  they  are  not 
considered  good  food,  for  the  reason  that  their  back  and 
thighs  strongly  possess  that  peculiar  game  flavor  for  which 
epicures  value  the  Scotch  bird.  No.  6  or  7  shot  will  be 
found  the  best  suited  for  their  destruction. 

Sage  Grouse,  or  Sage  Hen,  is  a  gross,  heavy,  awkward, 
but  handsomely  plumaged  bird  ;  it  is  almost  unedible  from 
living  upon  the  buds  of  the  wild  sage  plant,  and  can  only 
be  found  where  this  shrub  grows,  viz.,  on  the  vast  plains  on 
the  eastern  slopes  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  for  several  de- 
grees north  and  south  of  the  thirty-eighth  degree  of  lati- 
tude. 

PTARMIGAN. 

I  remember  asking  a  true  representative  of  the  Indian 
brave,  a  member  of  the  Sioux  tribe,  what  he  thought  the 
"happy  hunting-ground"  was  like  that  he  hoped  to  go  to 
when  he  left  this  world :  his  answer  was, "  One  vast  coun- 
try without  limits,  divided  into  prairie,  meadow,  and  tim- 
ber land,  where  all  the  wild  game  teemed,  and  was  so  reck- 
less of  man's  presence  that  the  hunter  had  but  to  slay  and 
eat."  How  much  more  admirable  would  this  description 
be,  if  eating  had  been  considered  unnecessary,  and  that  we 
could  return  the  confidence  of  the  inferior  animal  life  with 
kindness — not  death  !  The  Indian,  doubtless,  had  his  im- 
agination controlled  by  the  memory  of  some  of  the  choicest 
hunting-grounds  within  the  limits  of  his  tribe's  extensive 
range  of  country,  for  theirs  is  a  game  country  par  excel- 
lence. But  if  my  informant  had  been  from  some  of  the 
tribes  that  lay  far  off  to  the  north,  where  the  snows  lay 


216 


ritXllilE  AND  FOUEHT. 


deep  half  the  year,  and  the  spring  flits  into  sunnner,  and 
the  summer  into  winter,  as  rapidly  as  the  changing  scenes 
of  a  drama,  he  would  possibly  have  described  the  happy 
hunting-ground  similar  to  the  great  lone  land,  the  home  of 
the  ptarmigan.  What  eye  hath  not  seen,  the  mind  seldom 
can  conceive ;  and  I  have  no  doubt  the  aborigines  of  these 
far-off,  desolate  regions,  with  their  cutting  north  winds  and 
interminable  winter  nights,  if  asked  to  picture  what  they 
deemed  a  perfect  paradise,  would  describe  their  own  land ; 
thus  contentment  springs  out  of  ignorance. 


PTARMIGAN. 


But  to  the  country  Mr.  M'Donald  describes  as  back  of 
the  north  wind,  lonely  as  it  is — for  it  is  but  sparsely  pop- 
ulated —  if  visited  at  the  proper  season,  is  not  without  its 
beauties;  for  arid  mountain,  verdant  swamp,  and  rocky 
crag  mingle  together,  intersected  by  innumerable  dancing 
brooks  or  grand  pellucid  rivers,  forming  a  landscape  ever 
grand  and  impressive. 

Here  the  ptarmigan  is  to  be  found  in  abundance,  even 
without  the  aid  of  a  dog ;  but  should  the  sportsman  be  ac- 


PTAItMIOAN. 


217 


companied  by  so  useful  an  auxiliary,  I  have  no  doubt  that 
he  could  make  a  bag  which  for  numbers  would  rival  any 
formed  of  the  grouse  of  the  more  southern  prairies,  or  of 
the  nut-brown  beauties  that  love  our  English  stubbles. 

One  drawback  exists  to  ptarmigan-shooting  in  America : 
the  country  the  sportsman  is  compelled  to  seek  them  in  is 
far  beyond  the  borders  of  civilization,  and  freedom  from 
intrusion  has  rendered  them  recklessly  tame.  Time  after 
time  I  have  seen  them  sit  upon  some  bare,  exposed  piece  of 
rock  and  refuse  to  be  flushed,  even  after  hurling  stones  at 
them  from  less  than  a  dozen  yards'  distance. 

Again,  their  flight  (in  contradistinction  to  those  of  Scot- 
land) is  so  short,  that  if  the  unfortunate  bird  have  the  luck 
to  be  missed,  it  can  again  and  again  be  put  up,  till  even  the 
very  worst  of  shots  must  ultimately  bring  it  to  bag. 

They  are  beautiful  birds,  either  in  their  summer  or 
winter  plumage,  and  the  confidence  which  they  exhibit  in 
man's  good  intentions  toward  them  can  not  fail  to  endear 
them  to  him.  Thus,  I  have  never  shot  the  ptarmigan  but 
with  regret,  for  here  you  have  no  crafty  -game,  to  accom- 
plish whose  destruction  you  must  call  into  play  all  the  cun- 
ning of  your  nature. 

They  unquestionably  rank  among  the  game  of  America, 
or  I  should  have  left  them  unnoticed.  So  if  the  sportsman, 
through  my  instructions,  should  visit  their  habitat,  pray  de- 
sist from  useless  slaughter. 


10 


*$ 


h'' 

! 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1  ^mWt 

CHAPTER  XV. 

ORTYX. 

{Ortyx.) 

The  irginian  ortyx  is  to  bo  found  from  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico  to  Upper  Canada,  and  from  the  Atlantic  sea-board 
to  the  confines  of  the  Western  settlements  eastward  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  its  vagrant  habits  occasionally  causing 
it  to  stray  so  far  north  as  to  cause  thousands  to  perish 
tln'ough  the  severity  of  the  winter;  for  although  so  reck- 
less of  consequences  they  are  far  from  hardy.  They  are 
sought  for  in  the  same  manner  as  partridges  are  in  En- 
gland, viz.,  with  setters  and  pointers ;  but  from  their  being 
a  smaller  bird,  and  lying  closer,  it  is  desirable,  when  in 
their  r  luit,  to  use  smaller  shot.  If  justifiable  to  envy 
your  bors  the  possession  of   any  thing,  I  think  the 

sportsman  who  has  killed  this  game  must  often  have  wish- 
ed in  his  heart  that  it  was  abundant  in  England. 

If  all  who  have  traveled  abroad  or  sojourned  in  foreign 
lands  had  done  so  with  their  eyes  shut,  or  if,  not  keeping 
their  orbits  closed,  they  had  refused  to  give  their  country- 
men the  benefit  of  their  experience,  a  useless  lot  they  would 
have  been,  and  England,  as  far  as  progression  is  concerned, 
would  have  been  far  behind  her  present  advanced  position. 
He  who  first  introduced  the  idea  of  crossing  our  native 
horse  with  the  foreigner  did  an  immense  public  service;  he 
who  introduced  the  old  Spanish  pointer  deserves  the  grati- 
tude of  every  sportsman,  for  doubtless  our  present  beauties, 
with  all  their  speed  and  sagacity,  have  much  of  the  blear- 
eyed,  bad-tempered,  pottering  old  scoundrels'  blood  in  their 
veins.     And   still  further,  to  foreign  climes  we  trace  the 


■fli 


THE  VIIiGINIAN  OHTYX. 


210 


pheasant,  the  turkey,  and  so  many  more  vahiable  animals 
that  to  enumerate  them  would  be  tedious.  However,  I  be- 
lieve that  there  are  quadrupeds,  birds,  and  fishes,  still 
strangers  to  England,  that  require  only  to  be  known  to  be 
appreciated ;  and  by  placing  their  merits  before  the  public, 
some  one  may  be  found  sufficiently  patriotic  to  make  the 
attempt  to  naturalize  them. 

Without  more  preamble,  and  to  come  at  once  to  the 
point,  let  me  say  that  in  my  humble  opinion  there  is  no 
bird  more  worthy  of  attention,  and  more  deserving  of  the 
honor  of  introduction  to  any  land,  than  the  American  ortyx. 
Its  numerous  good  qualities,  together  with  its  description, 
I  will  to  the  best  of  my  knowledge  give,  hoping  it  may  be 
the  means  of  our  yet  seeing  this  little  beauty  ornamenting 
European  fields,  and  adding  brilliancy  and  variety  to  the 
game-bags  of  its  numerous  enthusiastic  sportsmen.  The 
American  ortyx  varies  in  weight  from  eight  to  ten  ounces, 
is  erect  in  his  walk,  very  handsome  in  plumage,  strong 
upon  the  wing,  feeds  principally  upon  grain,  grass-seed,  and 
ants,  frequents  indifferently  brush,  timber,  or  open  coun- 
try, is  capable  of  standing  cold,  is  not  quarrelsome  with 
other  game,  and  is  very  prolific,  frequently  hatching  two 
broods  in  a  season.  Moreover,  an  advantage  which  can 
not  be  too  highly  estimated,  is  that  it  never  gets  so  wild  as 
to  rise  so  far  from  your  dogs  as  to  be  out  of  gun-shot,  a 
nuisance  that  all  are  so  well  aware  of  in  our  home-bred 
bird  toward  the  end  of  the  season.  In  fact,  who  that  shoots 
regularly  can  not  remember  instances  of  our  partridge  dis- 
appearing over  the  far  side  of  a  field  as  soon  as  the  sports- 
man had  entered  it?  Now,  in  years  of  experience  in 
America,  I  never  saw  an  instance  of  this  kind ;  up  to  the 
commencement  of  the  close  season  they  would  remain  al- 
most as  tame  as  they  were  at  the  termination  of  the  pre- 
vious  one.     A  reason  for  this  may  be   that  they  seldom 


220 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


I 


pack. ;  only  once  or  twice  have  I  seen  more  than  the  usual 
number  of  a  cov.y  together,  and  then  remarked  that  the 
weather  had  been  unusually  severe  and  stormy. 

A  peculiarity,  however,  this  bird  possesses  is  *hat  in  wet 
and  slushy  weather  it  will  frequently  when  disturbed  take 
shelter  on  the  limbs  of  trees,  from  which  if  flushed  they  af- 
ford the  liardest  possible  shots.  In  the  open  it  is  by  no 
means  easy  to  hit,  for  its  flight  is  very  strong  and  swift, 
and  frequently  irregular,  but  it  does  not  go  far,  so  that  a 
good  marker  seldom  has  much  trouble  to  re-find  it.  Some 
persons  are  under  the  impression  that  this  ortyx  is  migra- 
tory; however,  this  is  a  mistake,  for,  although  they  may 
wander  from  their  breeding-place,  from  constant  attention 
I  am  convinced  that  the  change  of  quarters  is  caused  from 
scarcity  of  food.  On  the  edges  of  the  dry  prairies  in  South- 
ern Illinois,  in  early  autumn,  this  bird  abounds ;  in  winter 
they  disappear  into  the  neighboring  thickets  and  brush — for 
why  ?  the  prairies  are  constantly  burned  at  the  end  of  the 
season,  and  consequently  starvation  or  change  of  residence 
are  their  alternatives.  In  one  section  of  the  country  that  I 
resided  in,  a  great  portion  of  the  prairie-land  was  too  wet 
to  burn,  and  many  a  heavy  bag  I  obtained  late  in  the  sea- 
son, even  >vhen  the  roots  of  the  grass  were  submerged  in 
ice.  My  dogs,  which  I  invariably  broke  upon  them,  seldom 
made  mistakes,  and  never  do  I  remember  a  covey  depart- 
ing (except  the  pointer  or  setter  had  run  into  them  comi.  j 
down  t^^ind)  without  getting  at  least  a  barrel  into  them. 
With  other  varieties  of  game  they  appear  to  agree  well, 
for  I  have  on  several  occasions  killed  the  ortyx  with  one 
barrel,  and  the  ruffed  grouse  with  the  othcj  over  the  same 
point. 

They  are  universally  scattered  over  the  United  States 
east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  where  cultivation  exists,  al- 
though possibly  most  abundant  in  Maryland  and  Virginia. 


i       I 


TUE  VALIFORNIAN  ORTYX. 


221 


As  a  table  delicacy  I  know  no  greater ;  for  weeks  I  have 
constantly  had  them  at  both  breakfast  anu  dinner,  still  with- 
out becoming  satiated,  and  there  are  very  few  varieties  of 
gams  could  stand  a  more  severe  test.  Their  note  or  call  is 
remarkably  melodious,  and  in  the  spring  or  pairing  time, 
when  they  are  numerous,  you  can  hear  their  sweet  voice  all 
day  long,  and  in  every  direction.  I  have  always  regretted 
that  no  one  introduced  this  little  stranger,  in  sufficient  quan- 
tities to  guarantee  the  experiment  a  fair  trial. 


CALIFOENIAN    OKTYX. 

This  bird  is  a  little  smaller  than  the  Virginian.  It  is 
strictly  confined  to  the  Pacific  slopes,  and  wherever  culti- 
vation exists  the  sportsman  may  be  satisfied  that  his  ex- 
ertions in  their  pursuit  will  be  rewarded.  No.  8  will  be 
found  the  most  suitable  sized  shot  for  killing  this  game. 

This  bird  is  particularly  one  of  those  that  the  Americans 
have  reason  to  be  proud  of,  for  not  only  is  it  possessed  of 
brilliant  pluma;^e,  but  is  gifted  with  a  plume  remarkable 
alike  for  its  beauty  and  grace.  This  head-dress  is  a  row 
of  eight  or  ten  feathers,  commencing  on  the  top  of  the 
head  and  gradually  diminishing  in  size  as  they  grow  down 
the  neck.  In  cases  of  excitement,  or  at  the  breeding  sea- 
son, the  cocks  raise  this,  the  upper  portion  of  the  plumes 
pointing  foi'ward  over  the  forehead  after  the  manner  of  the 
crest  of  a  cockatoo.  On  the  hill-sides  that  inclose  the  Val- 
ley of  Sacramento  at  one  time  they  were  very  abundant; 
and  although  their  numbers  have  been  greatly  diminished 
ot  late  years,  still  they  are  sufiiciently  numerous  in  that  lo- 
cality to  afford  abundant  amusement  to  the  sportsman. 

Unlike  the  Virginian  ortyx,  they  do  not  lay  well  to  dogs, 
not  that  they  are  wild,  but  from  a  preference  they  have  for 
running  instead  of  taking  wing.  This  peculiarity  will  oft- 
en be  found  a  great  source  of  annoyance  when  the  cover  is 


222 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


thick,  and  bo  most  injurious  to  the  well-broken,  highly-bred 
dog.  However,  when  flushed,  their  flight  is  swift,  although 
not  protracted,  and  no  small  amount  of  skill  and  practice 
is  necessary  for  the  shooter  to  become  a  certain  shot  at 
this  description  of  game.  Like  the  Virginian  bird,  they 
frequently  breed  twice  in  the  year,  and  at  each  sitting,  if 
no  accident  occur,  or  wet  weather  supervene,  which  in  their 
habitf.t  is  unusual,  hatch  from  eight  to  ten  young;  thus  it 
is  easily  understood  how  they  are  so  abundant. 

Although  not  migratory,  they  are  very  erratic  in  their 
habits;  the  same  cause  as  in  the  Virginian  ortyx  being 
doubtless  the  reason. 

From  a  custom  they  possess  of  sunning  and  dusting 
themselves  in  very  exposed  and  bare  situations,  immense 
numbers  fall  victims  to  the  birds  of  prey ;  in  fact,  in  Cali- 
fornia, I  believe  they  form  the  principal  food  for  the  numer- 
ous species  of  Falconidae  that  infest  its  mountain  ranges ; 
veport  also  states  that  the  snakes  have  a  penchant  for  them, 
and  prefer  them  to  all  other  articles  of  food.  This  is  scarce- 
ly to  be  wondered  at  when  we  consider  how  defenseless 
they  are  when  seized,  their  excessive  tameness,  and  last, 
not  least,  their  delicacy  of  flesh,  if  the  taste  of  birds  of 
prey  and  snakes  is  to  be  judged  of  by  that  of  the  human 
family. 

In  Sonora  and  the  south-western  boundary  of  the  Apache 
range  of  country  they  are  captured,  with  nets  and  snares, 
in  immense  numbers  by  the  Indians,  it  being  no  unusual 
thing  for  hundreds  to  be  taken  in  a  single  day. 

While  residing  in  China,  at  Hong  Kong,  the  idea  struck 
several  Mends  and  myself,  from  the  constant  communica- 
tion there  was  between  the  Celestial  Land  and  San  Francis- 
co by  ship,  that  we  might  import  these  little  beauties  and 
acclimate  them  there.  After  some  delay  we  received  about 
twenty  couple,  eight  of  which  we  turned  out  in  Ty-tan  Val- 


THE  CALIFOltNIAN  OJiTYX. 


223 


ley,  Hong  Kong,  and  the  remainder  in  Shang-moon  Valley, 
in  the  opposite  main-land. 

Although  next  shooting  season  they  were  diligently 
searched  for,  I  am  unaware  that  any  of  them  were  after- 
ward found — climate,  soil,  or  food,  individually  or  collect- 
ively, being  doubtlessly  unsuited  to  them. 


«i 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

WILD  TURKEY. 

Two  species  represent  this  family,  viz.,  the  common  wild 
turkey,  so  well  known  in  nearly  all  the  States  composing 
the  Union,  and  the  ocellated,  common  to  Honduras  and 
portions  of  Central  America. 

Although  this  race  are  not  migratory,  still  they  are  great 
wanderers ;  thus  a  locality  where  they  have  been  abundant 
one  month,  rar.y  be  entirely  deserted  by  them  the  next.  It 
is  found  in  the  province  of  Ontario,  in  Canada,  which  I  am 
led  to  believe  is  the  most  northern  range  of  its  habitat: 
here  it  was  at  one  time  tolerably  abundant,  but  the  cultiva- 
tion of  the  wild  lands,  and  constant  persecution  by  the  set- 
tlers, have  very  much  reduced  their  numbers.  Pennsyl- 
vania and  Ohio  at  one  time  swarmed  with  them,  but  there, 
as  in  Canada,  they  have  suffered  much  diminution ;  how- 
ever, in  the  adjoining  States  of  Indiana,  Illinois,  Michigan, 
and  Wisconsin  they  can  be  found  in  sufficient  numbers  to 
remunerate  the  sportsman  for  the  time  and  labor  passed 
in  their  pursuit.  All  the  Southern  States  possess  them  in 
greater  or  less  abundance,  but  their  range  does  not  extend 
westward  beyond  the  eastern  slopes  of  the  Rocky  Mount- 
ains. 

The  early  settlers,  when  this  game  was  far  less  wary 
than  now,  were  in  the  habit  of  shooting  them  with  the 
rifle,  the  head  invariably  being  the  object  fired  at,  but 
quickness  of  aim  being  now  a  desideratum,  the  shot-gun 
has  usurped  the  place  of  the  other  weapon.  On  damp 
hazy  moonlight  nights  in  autumn,  if  the  roosting-place  be 


THE  WILD  TURKEY. 


225 


i 


I 


discovered,  several  in  succession  may  frequently  be  killed, 
before  the  others  become  sufficiently  alarmed  to  seek  bafe- 
ty  in  flight. 


WIL1>    TURKEY. 


This  noble  bird,  the  parent  stock  from  which  our  domes- 
tic race  has  sprung,  should  be  seen  in  the  free  untrammeled 
state  of  nature,  unsubdued  by  domestication,  to  have  a  just 

10* 


226 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREHT. 


conception  of  his  grandeur  and  consequence.  No  pasha 
with  many  tails,  no  Mongol  mandarin  with  obsequious  fol- 
lowers, struts  about  with  greater  consequence,  while  the  la- 
dies of  his  harem  gaze  with  meek  and  submissive  admira- 
tion on  all  their  liege  lord  does.  In  his  domestic  arrange- 
ments he  is  truly  an  autocrat  of  the  first  water,  caressing 
one,  sharing  his  food  with  another,  or  punishing  a  third ; 
however,  he  is  not  a  brave  gallant,  for  let  a  note  suspicious 
of  alarm  be  heard,  down  will  go  his  head,  and,  forgetful  of 
all  his  family  ties,  he  will  seek  safety  in  the  most  precipit- 
ous flight,  not  with  wings,  unless  compelled,  but  on  foot, 
and  at  a  gait  that  would  astonish  an  ostrich.  When  hu- 
man inhabitants  are  scarce  and  brush  abundant  where  wild 
turkeys  inhabit,  they  are  not  remarkable  for  their  cunning ; 
but  if  an  old  bird  should  remain  sole  survivor  of  his  race 
in  the  neighborhood  of  land  newly  settled,  I  doubt  much  if 
a  more  crafty,  suspicious  animal  can  be  found  in  the  world ; 
for  his  whole  life  seems  to  be  spent  in  a  state  of  uneasiness, 
seeing  and  dreading  danger  in  every  breath  of  wind  or 
moving  object.  Not  unfrequently  this  very  watchfulness 
leads  to  his  destruction,  for  to  avoid  an  imaginary  danger 
he  runs  into  a  real  one.  Again,  although  this  bird  may  be 
accredited  with  an  unusual  amount  of  cunning,  some  of  his 
actions  are  so  extremely  stupid,  that  it  causes  astonishment 
in  the  miiid  of  a  reasoning  being  how  qualities  so  dissimilar 
can  be  found  to  exist  together. 

As  an  instance,  in  some  portions  of  the  United  States 
where  settlements  are  becoming  daily  more  numerous,  wild 
turkeys  still  exist  in  considerable  numbers,  but  the  sports- 
man who  would  go  in  their  pursuit  with  the  hope  of  ob- 
taining a  shot,  will  find  his  efforts  fruitless  and  his  labor 
thrown  away ;  but  the  settler — more  probably  one  of  his 
young  children — will  go  into  the  uncleared  land,  search  till 
he  discovers  evidence  where  turkoys  frequent,  and  then 


■ 


MODE  OF  VAPTURINO. 


227 


commence  his  plans  for  their  capture.  His  first  proceed- 
ing is  to  make  a  circle,  on  the  margin  of  which  he  scatters 
a  few  grains  of  Indian  corn ;  this  being  accomplished,  he 
sprinkles  from  the  ring  to  its  centre  more  grain.  Here 
is  erected  a  small  edifice  of  poles,  laying  sufficiently  close 
upon  each  other  not  to  obstruct  the  light,  at  the  same  time 
to  prevent  the  prey  from  escapmg  when  inside.  Under- 
neath the  foundation  of  this  structure  a  passage  is  cut,  with 
a  gradual  incline  of  sufficient  size  for  the  game  to  force  it- 
self into  the  cage,  the  incline  and  interior  of  the  trap  being 
abundantly  supplied  with  grain.  This  generally  wary  bird, 
in  his  wanderings  through  the  woods  in  search  of  food,  dis- 
covers the  corn  laid  along  the  outer  circle :  feeding  along 
he  follows  it,  till  the  line  is  reached  which  leads  to  the 
trap;  this  he  also  pursues,  and  ultimately  squeezes  him- 
self inside  the  cage,  whence,  as  long  as  any  thing  remains 
to  eat,  he  never  thinks  of  retiring.  At  length  all  is  con- 
sumed, when  the  captive  raises  his  head  for  an  examination 
of  his  prison ;  after  a  time  he  endeavors  to  force  his  way 
through  between  the  poles,  but  this  is  impossible,  for  they 
are  firmly  pinned  together.  Restraint  now  makes  the  pris- 
oner reckless ;  headlong  he  dashes  against  the  bars,  till  ex 
hausted,  frightened,  and  with  disordered  plumage,  he  re- 
signs himself  to  his  fate,  never  for  an  instant  thinking  of 
lowering  his  head  to  seek  for  the  spot  that  afforded  him 
admission.  As  many  as  a  dozen  wild  turkeys  have  been 
caught  by  this  means  at  one  time.  Curiosity  is  another  of 
their  besetting  failings,  and  a  knowledge  of  this  weakness 
in  their  character  is  often  employed  to  bring  the  noble  bird 
within  gunshot.  While  residing  in  Southern  Illinois,  I  had 
a  favorite  kitten,  which,  unless  I  shut  it  up,  would  invaria- 
bly follow  me  into  the  woods  when  shooting.  On  one  oc- 
casion, with  this  strange  shooting  companion  at  my  heels, 
i  came  across  deer-tracks  so  fresh  and  regular  that  I  felt 


f  i" 

y 


228 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


convinced  their  producers  were  not  far  off.  What  to  do  with 
Pussy  first  occurred  to  me,  and,  as  I  neither  wished  to  lose 
my  pet  or  have  her  company,  a  thought  struck  me — why 
not  tie  her  up  with  a  long  piece  of  string  I  had  in  my 
game-bag?  Very  few  of  us  have  not  tied  up  a  dog,  and 
found  he  had  slipped  his  collar  on  their  return ;  a  little  ex- 
perience and  care  will  obviate  this  as  far  as  the  canine  race 
go,  but  to  tie  up  a  cat  is  quite  another  kettle  of  fish.  At 
length,  however,  I  succeeded,  by  not  only  placing  a  collar 
round  her  neck,  but  also  around  her  shoulders,  at  the  back 
of  the  fore-legs,  which,  connected  by  an  inch  of  cord,  retain- 
ed each  in  its  place  without  Puss  having  the  power  to  slip 
them.  To  this  connecting  link  I  attached  six  feet  of  string, 
which  I  made  fast  to  a  long  horizontal  branch,  about  five 
feet  from  the  ground.  Thus  the  cat  could  lie  down  or 
stand  up,  but  not  go  sufficiently  far  to  lay  hold  of  any 
thing  with  her  claws  to  assist  her  to  tear  from  her  moor- 
ings. Pussy  soon  found  that  escape  was  impossible,  so  sat- 
isfied herself  by  expressing  her  feelings  of  disappointment 
by  giving  vent  to  low,  piteous  cries. 

Off  I  went  after  the  deer.  From  the  woodland  they  had 
crossed  a  small  inclosure  of  tobacco,  proceeded  through  a 
belt  of  brush-wood,  and  entered  my  corn-field.  Making  a 
circle  to  get  the  wind,  I  carefully  entered  the  maize,  and 
after  half  an  hour's  diligent  search,  during  the  greater  part 
of  which  I  was  crawling  on  my  hands  and  knees,  I  viewed 
the  dusky  hide  of  a  well-fed  doe,  which  I  brought  down  at 
the  first  shot. 

Having  secured  my  prey  I  returned  for  Pussy,  and,  as 
chance  would  have  it,  I  approached  up  wind  the  place  where 
she  was  tied.  If  I  had  forgotten  her  exact  position,!  could 
easily  have  found  it  by  her  piteous  mewings.  When  with- 
in fifty  yards  of  where  she  was,  on  looking  to  my  front,  to 
my  surprise,  I  saw  nine  full-grown  wild  turkeys  around  her, 


AMUSING  INCIDENT. 


220 


and  so  remarkable  was  their  condnct  that  I  halted  to  wit- 
ness it. 

The  ringleader  of  this  coterie  was  a  very  large  old  cock- 
bird,  his  companions  young  males  and  hens.  In  a  circle  of 
a  few  yards  in  diameter  they  stood  around  my  pet,  their 
necks  either  stretched  forward  to  their  greatest  length,  or 
their  heads  hoisted  knowingly  on  one  side.  The  leader, 
who  seemed  the  bravest  of  the  party,  slowly  would  advance 
till  he  was  almost  within  pecking  distance  of  the  cat,  then 
Puss  would  make  a  struggle,  and  the  intruding  bird  would 
precipitately  retreat  several  paces.  Being  ambitious  to  fol- 
low the  example  of  their  leader,  a  younger  bird  would  now 
advance,  to  be  frightened  off  in  the  same  manner  as  his 
predecessor.  The  turkeys  seemed  to  regard  this  as  great 
fun,  for  as  soon  as  one  would  retire,  all  would  commence 
gobbling  together,  as  if  chaffing  the  coward,  immediately 
after  which  all  would  bristle  up  their  feathers  and  com- 
mence a  mimic  attack  upon  each  other.  Half  an  hour  I 
spent  watching  the  strange  vagaries  of  these  noble  birds, 
till  I  considered  I  had  learned  all  their  performance  by 
heart,  or  witnessed  all  the  tricks  that  the  mountebanks  in- 
tended putting  into  practice ;  so,  waiting  my  chance  when 
the  turkeys  were  aligned,  I  killed  two  with  my  left  barrel 
and  one  with  my  right.  Pussy's  release  now  called  for  my 
attention ;  with  the  aid  of  my  knife  in  a  moment  she  was 
free,  but  true  to  her  tiger  instincts,  the  first  use  she  made 
of  her  liberty  was  to  fly  upon  one  of  the  dead  birds,  and 
attempt  to  rend  it  in  pieces  with  teeth  and  claw.  In  fact, 
five  minutes  of  her  vindictive  wrath  would  have  soon  mu- 
tilated my  game  to  such  an  extent  as  to  render  it  unfit  for 
human  food.  I  afterward  made  trial  of  this  discovery,  but 
never  with  the  same  success,  although  it  invariably  afford- 
ed me  a  shot. 

If  domestic  turkeys  are  kept  where  wild  ones  abound. 


1  J   : 


230 


FItAIHIE  AND  FOREST. 


they  constantly  associate  together,  although  apparently  al- 
ways engaged  in  quarreling.  This  may  be  caused  through 
jealousy,  for  report  states  that  the  tame  hen-birds  much 
prefer  the  attentions  of  the  wild  cocks,  and  that  if  they  are 
not  carefully  watched  they  will  stray  oft  with  their  para- 
mour, regardless  of  the  ties  that  connect  them  to  their  le- 
gitimate protector. 

A  half  bred  Frenchman  residing  on  the  banks  of  the  Em- 
baras  told  me  that  whenever  he  wanted  a  wild  turkey,  he 
tied  a  piece  of  scarlet  cloth  around  the  neck  of  his  domes- 
tic male  bird  and  turned  him  loose,  when  every  unreclaim- 
ed turkey  in  the  neighborhood  was  certain  to  come  and  at- 
tack him,  fearlessly  affording  the  easiest  shots. 

I  have  occasionally  shot  them  over  setters,  but  in  each  in- 
stance the  victims  were  not  full  grown.  When  hounds  are 
running  <Ic3r  in  a  neighborhood  this  description  of  game 
frequents,  they  appear  to  lose  their  habitual  caution,  and  ex- 
pose themselves  to  the  hunter  in  the  most  reckle  ~  manner. 


i- 


CHAPTER  XVIT. 

WOODCOCK  AND    SNIPE. 

These  woodcocks  are  undoubtedly  migratory,  passing 
the  winter  in  the  genial  South,  and  tlie  summer  in  the 
North;  they  are  also  nocturnal,  doing  all  their  traveling  by 
night.  From  the  peculiar  formation  of  the  eye,  their  sight 
is  much  better  after  the  sun  has  declined.  Strong  light  is 
their  detestation,  for,  judging  from  their  conduct  when 
flushed  in  the  noonday  glare,  their  optics  are  then  of  little 
use ;  hence  the  idea  that  is  so  frequently  current  that  this 
bird  is  stupid.  Such  is  not  the  case,  but  quite  the  reverse, 
experience  having  taught  me  that  they  are  as  capable  as 
any  other  of  availing  themseivea  of  artifices  and  .hiding- 
places  that  are  likely  to  throw  out  the  dog,  or  shelter  them 
from  molestation.  This  bird,  although  undoubtedly  of  the 
same  family,  must  not  be  confounded  with  the  European, 
which  is  colored  differently  in  plumage  and  much  larger  in 
size.  The  woodcock  killed  in  England  generally  measure 
about  fourteen  and  a  half  inches  in  length,  and  weigh  from 
fourteen  to  seventeen  ounces,  although  one  is  reported  to 
have  been  killed  at  Narborough  of  the  enormous  weight  of 
twenty-seven  ounces.  I  do  not  here  give  all  the  minutia3  of 
the  English  bird,  for  it  is  not  of  it  that  I  wish  to  speak, 
but  only  sufficiently  to  show  that  there  is  a  marked  differ- 
ence between  H  and  its  namesake  of  the  American  conti- 
nent, whose  peculiarities  I  will,  so  far  as  memory  serves  me, 
attempt  to  describe,  for  the  benefit  of  the  young  sports- 
man. Length,  from  point  of  bill  to  end  of  tail,  eleven  to 
twelve  inches;  across  the  wings,  nine   and  a  half  inches; 


232 


PRAIBIE  AND  FOREST. 


Usi 


■n 


weight  from  six  to  seven  ounces.  The  females  generally 
exceed  these  measurements  by  about  one  in  ten.  In  shaj)e 
they  much  resemble  the  Wilson  snipe  [Scolopax  Wilsoni)^ 
only  they  are  more  round  and  compact,  the  eye  larger  and 
more  prominent,  and  wings  shortor  but  fuller.  In  color  the 
bill  is  a  yellowish  brown ;  legs  and  feet  of  a  pinkish  flesh 
color;  claws,  dark  olive  or  brown;  iris, brown;  forehead, 
dirty  yellow,  with  two  black  bars  across  the  back  of  the 
head,  and  two  narrow  ones  in  front  on  the  nock,  a  finely- 
penciled  dark  line  running  the  whole  length  of  the  head,  the 
eye  dividing  it  into  two  parts,  with  another  similar  line  un- 
derneath, and  marking  the  termination  of  the  lower  mandi- 
ble. Three  broad  bands  of  brownish  black  pass  lengthways 
and  parallel  from  the  shoulder  to  the  tail,  divided  from  one 
another  by  a  narrow  line  of  bluish  gray.  The  stomach  and 
breast  are  of  a  warm  fawn  color,  becoming  deeper  in  shade 
as  it  approaches  the  tail  and  termination  of  the  wings. 

This  description,  I  am  aware,  is  far  from  perfect,  or  such 
as  the  naturalist  would  demand ;  still,  I  think  it  is  suffi- 
ciently clear  to  enable  the  novice  to  distinguish  what  he 
has  got  when  the  first  American  woodcock  falls  to  his  com- 
panionable gun.  Although  this  bird  resemhles,  in  many 
respects,  the  snipe,  in  point  of  character  it  is  essentially 
different.  For  instance,  snipe  will,  in  the  middle  of  the 
day,  without  any  perceptible  reason,  be  seen  taking  long 
and  erratic  flights,  ascending  so  high  that  the  keenest  sight 
fails  to  trace  their  course,  and  again  wheeling  about  in  the 
heavens,  as  if  they  were  creatures  of  extraordinary  moment- 
ary impulses ;  one  instant  with  speed  dashing  off  to  the 
right,  and  in  the  next  moment  returning  with  equal  veloc- 
ity. Not  so  with  woodcock ;  they  very  seldom  take  flight 
during  the  glare  of  daylight  unless  disturbed,  and  then  it 
is  short,  and  only  sufficient  to  avoid,  if  possible,  the  in- 
truder a  second  time  disturbing  their  privacy.     When  on 


ii ' 


,3j?t 


THE  AMERICAN  WOODCOCK. 


233 


in- 
on 


the  wing  unalannctl  they  rarely  elevate  themselves  above 
the  tops  of  the  neighboring  trees,  and  are  soldora  seen  be- 
fore sunset  or  after  sunrise,  unless  driven  from  their  bow- 
ery, shady  retreats.  The  descriptions  of  ground  which 
they  prefer  are  moist  bottoms,  close  covered  woods  of 
second-growth  timber  and  evergreen  shrubs,  or  dry  ridges 
of  maple,  oak,  and  beech,  where  they  turn  over  the  decay- 
ing leaves  in  search  of  insects.  Although,  as  I  have  stated, 
these  birds  have  a  strong  dislike  to  taking  flight  in  the 
glaring  light  of  day,  yet,  in  searching  for  them,  you  will  al- 
ways find  more  success  attend  your  pursuit  upon  those 
declivities  that  receive  the  warm,  genial  rays  of  the  sun. 
In  spring,  when  the  woodcock  are  on  their  migratory  jour- 
ney north  from  their  winter  residence,  they  travel  singly, 
but  are  followed  in  rapid  succession  by  others ;  consequent- 
ly, where  one  day  not  a  single  specimen  could  be  seen,  the 
day  after  they  will  abound.  This  has  given  rise  to  the 
erroneous  impression  that  they  go  in  flocks;  but  during 
many  years'  experience  I  never  saw  over  two  or  three  on 
the  wing  at  the  same  time,  and  then  it  occurred  through 
the  birds  having  paired,  or  two  or  more  being  flushed  from 
a  favorite  haunt.  From  what  I  can  learn,  I  am  led  to  be- 
lieve that  Nova  Scotia,  New  Brunswick,  and  Maine  are 
their  principal  breeding-places,  although  annually  numbers 
take  up  their  temporary  quarters  in  the  Middle  States  of 
the  Union.  I  have  even  heard  of  their  nests  being  found 
in  Georgia,  North  Carolina,  and  Alabama;  but  these  are 
only  stragglers,  and  unimportant,  numerically,  when  you 
compare  them  with  those  that  are  to  be  found  in  their  more 
northern  retreats. 

The  nest  of  the  woodcock  is  very  primitive,  composed 
of  grasses  and  leaves,  placed  in  some  secluded  spot  near  the 
root  of  a  bush,  or  under  the  shelter  of  a  fallen  log.  They 
commence  to  lay  eaily  in  April  in  the  State  of  New  York, 


234 


rUAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


I 


kS: 


\i\ 


H 


!in 


p  t 


I 


and  sooner  or  later  as  they  happen  to  be  farther  south  or 
north ;  four  eggs  are  the  usual  number,  although  occa- 
sionally five  may  be  found.  These  are  about  the  hize  of 
the  domc-Gtic  pigeon's,  smooth,  of  a  yellow  clay  color,  and 
prettily  marked  with  irregular  patche"?  of  puce  or  brown. 
The  young,  as  soon  as  hatched,  run  about  like  the  plover, 
snipe,  and  the  majority  of  waders,  and  at  the  age  of  four 
Nveeks  are  able  to  fly.  The  mother-bird,  during  the  infancy 
of  her  progeny,  is  a  most  attached  and  solicitous  parent, 
frequently  permitting  herself  to  be  captured  rather  than 
desert  her  offspring.  What  a  beautiful  example  the  human 
family  may  frequently  learn  from  the  insignificant  inferior 
animals ! 

For  shooting  woodcock,  a  sport  that  nearly  all  are  par- 
tial to,  I  prefer  the  setter  to  the  pointer,  for  the  reason  that 
the  former  are  better  protected  by  their  thick  coats  from 
the  thorns  of  the  briers;  again,  I  have  found  them  less 
liable  to  become  footsore,  with  a  stronger  relish  for  hunt- 
ing through  damp  and  sometimes  wet  ground;  besides, 
they  are  more  easily  taught  to  retrieve,  and  are,  in  my  be- 
lief, more  intelligent.  A  gentleman  who  has  frequently 
shot  with  me  across  the  Atlantic,  uses  with  great  success  a 
pair  of  cocking  spaniels,  which  answer  admirably,  and  make 
an  extremely  lively  and  pretty  team,  but  they  are  rather  too 
quick  for  a  veternn ;  ten  years  ago,  I  should  have  enjoyed 
nothing  better  than  such  companions.  One  thing  I  would 
recommend,  that  for  woodcock  -  shooting  your  dogs  have 
plenty  of  white  in  their  color,  for  unless  such  is  the  case, 
you  will  frequently  lose  a  point  and  shot  by  walking  past 
them,  an  annoyance  to  yourself  and  a  disappointment  to 
your  setter. 

Before  concluding,  I  would  call  the  attention  of  all  good 
and  true  lovers  of  the  dog  and  gun  to  a  practice  that  exists 
in  Louisiana,  and  doubtless  elst where,  of  killing  woodcock 


u 

\ 


THE  WILHON  SNIPE. 


236 


with  poles  at  iiiglit  in  the  corn-fields,  with  the  assistance  of 
a  brilliant  torch.  Like  the  noble  salmon,  the  woodcock  be- 
comes fascinated  or  stupefied  by  the  brilliancy  of  the  glare, 
and  falls  a  ready  victim  to  the  club  of  the  midnight  prowl- 
er, America  is  now  coming  to  that  age  that  it  is  absolute- 
ly necessary  to  insist  on  the  laws  being  enforced  for  the 
protection  .of  game  and  fish.  If  not,  half  a  century  hence, 
the  haunts  which  now  abound  with  game  wiU  be  as  thor- 
oughly divested  of  it  as  the  Hudson  or  Connecticut  rivers 
are  of  the  princely  salmon.  Once  extermination  takes  place, 
it  will  be  too  late  to  do  aught  but  repine. 


Snipe  abound  throughout  the  prairies  of  Western  Amer- 
ica, far  outdoing  all  other  game  in  their  abundance.  The 
Wilson  snipe,  for  such  is  its  proper  name,  is  truly  a  splen- 
did bird,  so  nearly  similar  to  our  own  home  beauty  that  the 
skillful  naturalist  is  alone  able  to  distinguish  the  one  from 
the  other ;  in  size,  habits,  flight,  and  even  call,  they  are  es- 
sentially alike. 

Spending  the  winter  months  in  the  Southern  States,  prin- 
cipally in  those  that  border  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  as  spring 
advances  they  follow  up  northward  the  line  of  demarkation 
between  frost  and  thaw,  ultimately  arriving  in  that  bound- 
less expanse  wliich  stretches  northw^ard  from  the  great 
lakes  to  the  Arctic  Ocean,  Up  in  this  remote  haunt  is 
their  principal  breeding- ground,  although  occasionally  a 
nest  may  be  found  much  farther  to  the  south  ;  but  in  such 
instances  I  have  been  induced  to  believe  that  either  the 
male  or  the  female  bird  had  met  with  an  accident,  and  thus 
been  prevented  following  the  migration  of  his  or  her  com- 
panions. What  a  beautiful  lesson  all  may  learn  from  this  I 
How  it  shoul^  speak  home  to  the  human  heart,  this  attach- 
ment of  the  mate,  who,  sooner  than  desert  a  companioii, 
forsakes  for  the  time  being  his  whole  race,  save  one,  and 


f-  1^ 


236 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


foregoes  even  following  the  journey  almost  necessary  to 
life ! 

In  Southern  Illinois,  where  I  had  the  greatest  amount  of 
experience  in  killing  this  game,  the  advance  heralds  of  mi- 
gration generally  arrived  about  the  10th  of  March.    Much, 


WILSON   SNIPE. 


of  course,  depended  upon  whether  the  winter  was  late  or 
otherwise;  but  if  a  thaw  had  taken  place,  and  a  moist 
southerly  wind  had  been  blowing  overnight,  the  ground 
that  yesterday  you  had  tramped  over  in  pursuit  of  wild 
duck  without  seeing  a  single  snipe,  on  the  morrow  would 
harbor  thousands.  Their  journey  being  a  continuation  of 
short  flights,  they  are  seldom  out  of  condition  on  arrival ; 
and  as  they  do  not  take  up  a  permanent  residence,  little 
compunction  is  felt  in  shooting  them.  Out  of  the  large 
number  that  I  have  brought  to  bag,  I  do  not  remember  a 
single  instance  of  an  eg^^  or  other  indication  that  pairing 


I 


i 


AMERICANS  EXCELLENT  SHOTS. 


237 


had  taken  place.  Tlie  prairies  of  this  State  (IlUnois)  are 
generally  burned  late  in  the  fall  or  early  in  spring,  to  im- 
prove the  succeeding  year's  grazing,  leaving  the  surface  of 
the  soil  entirely  denuded  of  grass,  except  vi^here  moisture 
has  prevented  the  burning  taking  effect.  Over  this,  espec- 
ially in  the  vicinity  of  sloughs,  dwarf  persimmon-bushes 
abound,  and  there  the  snipe  much  frequent.  A  dog  is  not 
necessary  here,  for  the  game  is  so  abundant,  unless,  per- 
haps, a  good  retriever,  who  must  be  under  such  control  as 
never  to  attempt  to  leave  heel,  except  when  ordered  by  his 
master  to  recover  a  cripple.  A  further  attraction  to  this 
sport  is,  that  few  days  pass  on  which  numbers  of  teal,  pin- 
tailed  duck,  or  mallard  do  not  assist  to  swell  the  size  of 
your  game-bag.  From  the  advent  of  the  first  flight  till  the 
middle  of  May  additional  arrivals  take  place;  but  after 
that  date  all  disappear  till  the  fall  of  the  leaf,  and  gusty, 
changeable  weather  foretells  the  near  approach  of  winter. 
But  the  autumnal  flight  is  never  numerically  equal  to  that 
of  spring ;  still,  if  twenty  brace  will  satisfy  the  sportsman, 
he  can  have  that  reward  for  his  labor,  provided  he  be  a  fair 
shot. 

Americans,  as  a  rule,  are  excellent  shots.  By  them  the 
arrival  of  snipe  is  looked  forward  to  witl^murh  pleasure; 
but  to  the  pot-hunter — the  fellow  whq  will  shoot  pinnated 
grouse  on  the  ground,  the  duck  upon  the  water,  or  crawl 
all  day  through  brush  to  have  a  standing  chance  at  a  wild 
turkey — this  branch  of  shooting  presents  little  attraction. 
How  satisfactory  it  is  that  there  is  at  least  one  game  bird 
who  can  laugh  with  derision  at  such  pursuers !  At  first, 
when  snipe  make  their  appearance,  especially  if  the  weather 
be  wet  and  blustering,  they  are  inclined  to  be  wild ;  but 
much  depends  upon  the  amount  of  cover  afforded  by  the 
locality ;  but  when  the  genial  sun  of  spring  shines  with  in- 
vigorating warmth,  they  will  frequently  lie  so  close  that 


J 


238 


J'RAIRIE  AND  FOREHT. 


\ 


many  will  flush  almost  at  your  feet.  When  wild,  their 
flights  are  long  and  rapid ;  when  not  so,  they  droop  their 
wings,  and  frequently  alight  before  a  hundred  yards  have 
been  traversed.  However,  this  does  not  apply  to  the  whole 
day ;  for  toward  sunset,  possibly  from  having  by  that  time 
digested  their  last  night's  meal — for  they  feed  principally 
by  night — they  invariably  become  wild,  and  more  difticult 
of  approach.  To  be  successful  in  making  a  heavy  bag  of 
snipe,  there  is  a  rule  which  may  be  beneficial  to  the  tyro  to 
remember,  viz.,  always  to  hunt  down  wind,  or  as  much  so 
as  possible,  provided  always  that  dogs  are  not  used.  The 
stronger  the  breeze,  the  more  necessity  for  doing  so ;  the 
reason  being,  that  invariably  snipe  fly  against  the  wind,  and 
being  flushed  by  your  advancing  on  them  from  windward, 
the  birds  will  wheel  round  to  the  right  or  left,  and  present 
an  easy  cross-shot,  in  their  determination  to  pursue  the  de- 
sired direction. 

The  migration  of  this  snipe,  as  well  as  of  the  American 
woodcock,  is  peculiar :  all  appear  to  act  independently  of 
tlie  other.  Dozens  may  be  seen  to  pass  or  light  near  you 
in  the  space  of  a  few  minutes,  yet  each  bird  is  alone.  Many 
an  evening,  after  sunset,  have  I  watched  their  coming,  yet 
never  saw  two  pr  more  together.  These  journeys  take 
place  before  sunrise  and  after  sunset.  This  scattered  mode 
of  traveling,  and  the  hour  at  which  it  takes  place,  are 
doubtles.s  the  reasons  that  none  but  close  observers  of  na- 
ture witness  their  arrival.  By  the  end  of  May  the  migra- 
tion of  this  snipe  has  ceased,  and  their  summer-quarters 
are  reached,  which  are,  as  previously  stated,  principally 
north  of  the  great  lakes  and  the  St.  Lawrence ;  although 
not  a  few  spend  the  summer  in  Nova  Scotia,  New  Bruns- 
wick, and  Maine.  Early  in  June  they  commence  laying 
their  eggs,  four  in  number,  in  a  nest  of  the  most  primitive 
construction,  it  being  simply  an  indentation  in  some  trifling 


SNIPE:   BREEDING  SEASON. 


239 


ra- 
il's 


ve 


excrescence  of  the  surface.  The  eggs,  which  are  of  a  yel- 
lowish-brown color,  blotched  with  dark  markings,  taper 
very  much  toward  the  small  end ;  they  are  always  placed 
in  the  nest  with  the  larger  end  outward.  As  soon  as  the 
young  are  hatched,  they  leave  the  nest,  and  in  six  weeks 
afterward  are  almost  full  grown.  At  this  age  it  is  impos- 
sible to  tell  the  Wilson  snipe  from  our  home  variety ;  ho'.v- 
ever,  at  any  period  the  only  difference  that  exists  is  ^^hat 
one  species  has  two  more  feathers  in  the  wing  than  the 
other. 

Last  year  but  one  I  shot  snipe  day  after  day,  till  a  sur- 
feit might  have  been  expected,  and  only  desisted  when  the 
advancement  of  the  season  proclaimed  the  approach  of  the 
period  for  breeding ;  and,  though  some  might  imagine  such 
a  lengthened  campaign  would  have  sufficed  for  coming 
years,  b  fore  twelve  months  had  slipped  past  I  stretched 
my  arms,  looked  at  the  sky,  observed  the  wind,  all  three 
of  which  being  favorable,  anathematized,  perhaps,  the  des- 
tiny or  fate  that  compelled  me  to  accept  more  sedentary 
town  occupation. 

With  that  intuitive  feeling  that  tells  the  swallow  when 
to  migrate,  the  fish  a  change  of  weather,  or  the  cattle  the 
portended  storm,  we  feel  certain  that  all  the  southern  prai- 
ries of  Illinois  are  now  alive  (March)  with  snipe,  that  they 
are  lying  well  to  the  gun,  and  that  heavy  bags  are  being 
made.  We  can  even  shut  our  eyes  and  imagine  that  we 
are  just  approaching  some  favorite  spot  either  bordering 
on  a  slough  or  stream,  or  rich-loamed  dip  between  swelling 
slopes,  and  that  the  game  is  flushing  right  and  left,  as  we 
cautiously  pursue  our  course  down  wind,  while  our  trusty 
and  well-tried  gun  rapidly  responds  to  our  aim.  Again 
and  again  we  fill  and  empty  our  blood-stained  pockets,  till 
the  body  from  fatigue  calls  "  Hold,  enough !"  or  we  re- 
turn, with  waning  day,  to  our  little  bald-faced  pony,  ever 


240 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


\ 


k 

m 

'■;  \ 

il 

1 

% 

1 

!i 

1 

i 

f 

ready  with  a  neigh  to  welcome  his  master's  re-appearance. 
Though  to  revisit  these  sechided  haunts,  to  re-enact  these 
scenes  may  not  be  my  lot,  why  should  they  not  be  the 
reader's  ?  If  you  are  a  proficient  in  the  art,  you  will  make 
such  a  bag  of  snipe  as  an  English  sportsman  scarcely  ever 
dreamed  of.  Go,  by  all  means — do  not  stop  to  hesitate — 
and  I  will  guarantee  you  an  amount  of  sport  that  will  in- 
duce many  a  future  return. 

Those  gentlemen  who  live  in  the  cities  that  surround 
these  ^porting  localities  are  well  aware  of  the  excellence  of 
the  shooting  at  this  season  upon  the  prairies,  and  make  up 
large  parties  to  have  a  week  or  so  at  the  Wilson  snipe.  In 
the  course  of  a  day's  shooting  on  the  Grand  Prairie,  I  have 
met  visitors  from  Louisville,  Cincinnati,  and  St.  Louis, 
marching  like  companies  in  skirmishing  order,  and  keep- 
ing up  a  regular  fusillade.  But  so  great  is  the  extent  of 
hunting-ground,  and  so  numerous  the  game,  that  in  each 
day,  over  the  same  beat,  no  visible  diminution  can  be  ob- 
served. We  do  not  mean  to  say  that  no  English  sports- 
man ever  made  a  trial  of  these  Western  haunts,  but  we  are 
thoroughly  impressed  that  the  excellence  of  these  grounds 
is  far  from  as  widely  known  as  it  deserves;"  and  that  many 
persons,  possessed  both  with  means  and  inclination,  are  un- 
aware that  within  thirty-six  hours'  journey  of  New  York 
they  can  have  such  snipe-shooting  as  is  to  be  enjoyed  in  no 
other  portion  of  the  globe. 

As  to  all  the  haunts  of  snipe,  the  visitors  must  go  well 
prepared  with  a  good  supply  of  water-proof  boots,  for  the 
walking  is  always  damp,  sometimes  wet.  Also,  a  good  stock 
of  flannel  clothing  will  be  found  indispensable ;  for  at  this 
season  the  weather  is  frequently  iL;o  variable,  that  although 
noon  may  be  oppressively  warm,  sunset  and  the  hour  of  the 
tramp  home,  especially  if  your  feet  are  wet,  may  be  found 
sufficiently  cold  to  chill  the  warmest  blood. 


earance. 
ct  these 
be  the 
ill  make 
ely  ever 
sitate — 
will  in- 


jiTound 
lence  of 
lake  up 
pe.  In 
,  I  have 
.  Louis, 
i  keep- 
tent  of 
in  each 
be  ob- 
sports- 
we  are 
grounds 
t  many 
are  un- 
7  York 
i  in  no 

?o  well 
for  the 
3  stock 
at  this 
though 
of  the 
found 


4s 


I     li  ! 


m 


IS 

'«' 

*^ 
H 
0 
0 

0 

a 


ot  lield-s[)«jrt  in  wliich 

W8  its  superiority  over  the 

.pidity  with 

,  dispensing 

•Id 


In  our  opinion,  thor 
I  he  breech-loader  so  ]• 
old  mnzzle-gun  As 
vhich  they  can  botli 
uith  the  ramrod,  whit  ■ 
•^    Ulicr,  being  able  to  io 

'   imd  or  iu  the  mud. 
ure  advantages 
i'lnu  in  S!i' 

As  'I 
^port  i 

pcrienceM,  »ii 
ttice,  s^  I  iuii  know; 

•  do/,eu  hni|>e  in  scVc'U  huius, auu  Lui)aci  'roiiUcJil- 

ly  killed  from  seven  to  eight  dozen  iu  the  sauit 

'  day's  shooting  of  niyilast  season,  over  indifferent  groumi, 

of  sur- 


ipon 


iqualit\ 


!:uu,  b; 


nave  kiioc.i».e<'     • 

<JliIO   LlluJi 

uiiu  :umas.l  uiniiierrupt<  '' 
iuund  abundantly  stocke!  ' 
■  '       first  fligV'"     ■'■  ■'      ;uigi;iif. 
'uld  like  Iu  cau         *'  o  rfov' 


■rri;!]].  that  »t  In 


11: 


A  GOOD  DAY'S  SPOUT. 


243 


In  our  opinion,  there  is  no  kind  of  field-sport  in  which 
the  breech-loader  so  plainly  shows  its  superiority  over  the 
old  muzzle-gun  as  in  snipe -shooting.  The  rapidity  with 
which  they  can  both  be  loaded  and  cleaned,  dispensing 
with  the  ramrod,  which  is  always  difficult  to  handle  in  cold 
weather,  being  able  to  load  without  placing  the  butt  on  the 
ground  or  in  the  mud,  and  the  non-necessity  of  using  caps, 
are  advantages  in  all  sporting,  but  in  none  more  decided 
than  in  snipe-shooting. 

As  an  estimate  of  what  may  be  considered  a  good  day's 
sport  in  the  spring  of  the  year  on  these  grounds,  we  will 
recur  to  our  own  experiences,  and  state  them.  An  acquaint- 
ance, who  was  a  good  shot,  killed,  to  my  certain  knowledge, 
niiu3  dozen  snipe  in  seven  hours,  and  I  myself  have  frequent- 
ly killed  from  seveu  to  eight  dozen  in  the  same  time.  The 
first  day's  shooting  of  my  last  season,  over  indifferent  ground, 
and  very  difficult  to  walk  upon  from  its  inequality  of  sur- 
face, in  five  hours  I,  to  my  own  gun,  bagged  four  dozen, 
and  but  that  the  birds  were  extremely  wild  would  possibly 
have  knocked  over  fifty  per  cent.  more. 

Where  we  should  advise  the  sportsman  to  commence 
snipe-shooting  in  spring  would  be  at  Vincennes,  on  the 
Ohio  and  Mississippi  Railroad.  From  here  you  can  have 
sport  in  every  direction ;  and  when  you  feel  desirous  of 
change  of  scene,  the  prairies,  which  begin  here,  and  con- 
tinue north  almost  uninterruptedly  to  the  great  lakes,  will 
be  found  abundantly  stocked  from  the  date  of  the  arrival 
of  the  first  flight  of  the  migratory  hordes.  Of  one  thing 
we  should  like  to  caution  the  rfovice,  viz.,  the  using  of  too 
large  shot.  No.  9  will  be  found  the  best.  A  snipe  requires 
but  little  hitting  to  bring  him  down  ;  and  then  his  body  is 
so  small,  that  at  the  distance  of  forty  yards,  although  your 
aim  may  be  correct,  if  you  shoot  large  shot,  it  is  far  from 
improbable  that  the  game  may  fly  through  it. 


I 

i 


244 


rBAIlilE  AND  FOItEST. 


If  your  frame  bo  cast  in  that  iron  mould  which  nature 
has  bestowed  on  some,  and  you  are  consequently  capable 
of  bearing  without  inconvenience  fatigue  and  exposure,  and 
are,  at  the  same  time,  desirous  of  makifig  as  heavy  a  bag 
as  possible  while  sliooting  over  your  snipe-beat,  pay  partic- 
ular attention  to  the  water-courses  and  sloughs ;  and  when 
you  become  satisfied  that  yon  have  found  a  8])0t  where  the 
ducks  are  in  the  habit  of  spending  their  evenings,  which 
may  be  ascertained  by  the  down-trodden  weeds  and  muddy 
ai)puarance  of  the  water,  mark  the  place ;  for  when  it  be- 
comes too  late  to  continue  peppering  the  snipe,  you  can  re- 
turn and  lie  in  ambush  for  the  web-footed  gentry.  Duck, 
from  flying  high  when  on  the  move,  can  be  seen  much  later 
than  small  game,  more  particularly  if,  watching  for  thom, 
you  can  frequently  get  them  against  some  clear  spot  in  the 
sky.  Frequently  I  have  killed  in  thirty  minutes  half  a  doz- 
en of  that  prince  of  birds  and  epicurean  dainties,  the  mal- 
lard, in  this  manner,  when  it  was  so  dark  that,  after  they 
had  dropped,  but  for  the  sagacity  of  my  retriever  I  was 
scarcely  aware  whether  I  had  correctly  aimed.  If  the  even- 
ing should  be  dark  and  gloomy,  with  indications  of  change 
to  cold  weather,  and  a  high  wind  blowing,  it  will  be  unnec- 
essary to  wait  as  late  as  sunset  before  visiting  the  feeding- 
ground  of  the  duck;  for,  under  such  circumstances,  they 
come  in  fearlessly  early  in  the  afternoon.  However,  you 
can  not  practice  this  work  successfully  without  some  kind 
of  screen,  which  will  require  to  be  larger  and  thicker  if 
your  clothes  do  not  in  color  closely  approximate  the  hue  of 
the  ground. 

Brother  sportsmer,  let  me  once  more  advise  you  to  visit 
the  Westei'n  snipe-grounds,  and  on  your  return  I  know  I 
shall  receive  your  thanks  for  being  the  means  of  introduc- 
ing you  to  sport  that  can  not  fail  to  rejoice  the  heart  of 
every  true  lover  of  the  dog  and  gun. 


■T 


ing- 

tliey 

you 

cind 

fer  a 

le  of 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

WADING  BIRDS. 

There  is  no  portion  of  tlie  world  with  which  I  am  ac- 
quainted where  this  family  is  so  1  .rgely  represented  as  in 
America,  both  in  numbers  and  varieties  of  species.  Along 
the  Atlantic  sea-board  of  the  United  States,  both  in  spring 
and  autumn  they  abound ;  the  interior  and  coast  of  New- 
foundland and  Labrador,  their  principal  breeding-grounds, 
fairly  swarm  with  them,  while  the  prairies  at  the  breaking 
up  of  winter,  especially  on  such  portions  as  have  been  flood- 
ed or  the  grass  lately  burned  off,  are  populated  with  differ- 
ent species  in  such  phalanxes  as  almost  to  cause  the  surface 
of  the  soil  to  appear  moving  as  they  rush  about  in  search  of 
the  various  insects  that  form  their  principal  food. 

On  the  coast  they  afford  abundant  amusement  to  those 
partial  to  this  description  of  shooting,  for  they  are  easily 
induced  to  alight  among  decoys  placed  within  range  of 
screens  or  blinds,  behind  which  the  gunners  are  secreted ; 
and  so  great  is  the  slaughter  sometimes  made  anlong  the 
unsuspicious  hordes,  that  but  that  they  form  a  delicious 
article  of  food,  and  are  eagerly  souglit  for  in  the  markets 
by  all  classes  of  people,  it  would  be  deemed  a  most  culpa- 
ble amusement. 

For  this  fpmily  I  confess  to  have  a  great  love,  for  they 
are  always  graceful  in  form  and  beautiful  in  plumage,  buoy- 
ant in  flight,  and  active  and  untiring  on  the  ground.  Then 
their  movements  appear  to  be  guided  entirely  by  impulse, 
while  many  of  the  species  evince  a  love  for  their  compan- 
ions so  powerful  that,  sooner  than  forsake  their  dead  and 


nrr 


It! 


w 


I 


246 


PRATRIE  AND  FOREST. 


Mounded  comrades,  they  will  remain  hovering  over  the  spot 
where  they  have  fall  jn,  till  the  irresistible  shot  has  decimated 
in  the  mo?  t  wholesal    manner  their  well-organized  ranks. 

Cobb  Island,  near  the  entrance  to  Chesapeake  Bay,  is 
one  of  their  most  favored  haunts;  in  fact,  all  the  islands 
and  beaches  al'^ng  the  coast  of  New  Jersey  were  little  less 
frequented,  but,  from  being  easier  of  access  to  the  dwellers 
in  the  neighboring  large  cities,  the  birds  of  late  years  have 
betaken  themselves  to  the  less -frequented  resting-place. 


f^^ 


AMERICAN   CDRLKW. 


However,  they  are  soon  threatened  with  expulsion  from 
Cobb  Island  ;  for  a  hotel  for  the  accommodation  of  sports- 
men has  been  built  upon  its  sterile  shores,  and  the  Atlantic 
breakers  that  guarcVits  siirf-beaten  coast  listen,  with  mur- 
muring dissatisfaction,  to  the  constant  repeated  echoes  of 
the  report  of  fire-arms,  which  are  decimating  the  graceful 
beauties  that  in  years  gone  by  were  permitted  in  peace  to 
glide  over  the  bosom  of  old  Father  Ocean. 


A  ItETRIEVER  NECESSARY. 


247 


Strictly  migratory,  what  an  enjoyable  life  they  must 
lead  !  here  to-day,  gone  to  -  morrow ;  one  week  skimming 
the  waters  that  skirt  the  sunny  shores  of  Florida,  the  next 
seeking  their  food  on  the  spongy,  verdant  uplands  of  Lab- 
rador ;  in  the  former  wakened  from  their  reveries  or  slum- 
bers by  the  approach  of  the  stealthy  alligator  or  clumsy 
turl'),  in  the  latter  by  the  deep  growl  of  the  Arctic  bear, 
or  the  sudden  dash  into  their  ranks  of  the  stealthy  blue  fox. 
Then  the  scenes  they  see,  traversing  the  ocean — the  over- 
freighted ship  toiling  in  the  surging  storm,  the  taut-rigged 
coaster  or  pilot  vessel  jaying-to,  to  wait  for  the  war  of  the 
elements  to  cease ;  the  giant  steamboat,  regardless  of  wind 
or  weather,  cleaving  with  scorn  the  mountain  billows  that 
oppose  her  course,  or,  more  to  my  taste  still,  the  white 
wings  of  numerous  crafts  lazily  flapping  against  heir  spars, 
while  the  anxious  skipper  earnestly  looks  for  the  semblance 
of  a  breeze,  or  snperstitiously  whistles  with  tho  hope  of 
producing  one. 

If  the  doctrine  of  the  transmigration  of  souls  were  true, 
when  our  earthly  course  in  the  present  form  was  run,  who 
would  not  wish  to  be  transformed  into  one  of  these  migra- 
tory darlings,  especially  if  those  he  or  she  loved  passed 
throucfh  the  same  change ! 

But  to  leave  dear  dream-land,  and  return  to  cruel  reality. 
A  large-bore  gun,  say  a  10,  with  the  lightest  shot,  is  the 
best  weapon  to  use  for  the  destruction  of  this  family,  unless 
curlew  be  the  principal  object  of  your  pursuit,  when  heav- 
ier shot — I  should  prefer  No.  5 — should  be  employed. 

A  retriever  will  be  found  absolutely  necessary  in  this  de- 
scription of  sport,  for  the  greater  portion  of  the  game  kill 
ed,  from  being  shot  on  the  margin  of  the  sea,  fall  in  the 
water.  Your  dog,  however,  should  not  be  large,  for  these 
birds,  although  only  crippled,  i-re  easily  captured,  and  a 
small  retriever  is  always  preferable  to  a  large  one  in  a  boat. 


If ' 
i'  1 


I 


l^ 


248 


PIUIEIE  AND  FOREST. 


ill 


1^11 


As  sliarks  are  numerous  all  along  the  Atlantic  sea-board  of 
the  United  States,  particularly  from  New  Jersey  southward, 
any  stray  bird  that  should  drop  a  long  way  out  had  better 
be  lost,  for  your  dog  would  run  a  great  risk  of  being  seized 
by  these  marine  savages  if  he  went  out  into  the  deep  water. 
I  can  imagine  novices  and  old  men  attached  to  this  de- 
scription of  shooting;  but  for  the  keen  sportsman  who 
values  his  bag  in  proportion  to  the  amount  of  labor  and 
skill  which  has  been  called  in  practice  to  obtain  it,  such 
wholesale  slaughter  of  confiding  flocks  of  birds  must  be  far 
too  tame  work  to  meet  his  approval. 


w4f^^ 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

SWIMMING  BIRDS. 

Swans,  in  my  lengthened  experience,  I  have  never  seen 
in  lower  latitudes  than  the  mouth  of  the  Chesapeake  Bay, 
and  it  requires  very  severe  weather  indeed  to  force  them 
farther  southward;  however,  they  are  occasionally  found 
on  the  coast  of  Georgia.  Last  season  I  spent  the  winter 
upon  a  large  arm  of  the  sea  in  Maryland,  and  as  the  frosts 
were  unusually  protiacted,  swans  were  abundant.  Their 
ordinary  habitat  may,  therefore,  be  considered  to  stretch 
from  Virginia  to  the  Arctic  regions;  in  the  latter  they 
si)ond  their  summer.  As  they  arc  of  little  use  for  the 
table,  but  seldom  conmiit  damage  to  the  crops,  and  are  ex- 
tremely ornamental,  it  is  a  great  pity  to  destroy  them,  and, 
thanks  to  their  extreme  wariness,  this  is  seldom  accom- 
plished. Moreover,  they  are  so  powerful  on  the  wing,  and 
their  covering  of  down  so  dense,  that  they  must  be  within 
easy  range  for  the  gunner  to  bring  them  to  bag.  As  a 
rule,  I  confidently  believe  that  half  these  birds  that  are 
shot,  escape  to  die  a  miserable  death  from  hemorrhage  or 
starvation. 

Although  I  have  obtained  shots  at  swans,  they  were 
more  frequently  the  result  of  chance  than  intention.  How- 
ever, last  winter,  I  determined  to  obtain  a  specimen  for 
myself,  and  two  others  for  friends,  on  which  the  taxi- 
dermist should  exercise  his  skill,  so  that  1  might  retain  a 
memento  of  my  sojourn  on  the  Maryland  swamp-washed 
shores  of  the  Cliesn^^eake.  The  weather  had  been  very 
v.ariable,  jumping,  with  those  sudden  changes  peculiar  to 

11* 


!  - 


:n 


i 


250 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


i8 


America,  from  intense  cold  to  almost  Gulf  Stream  tempera- 
ture :  the  result  was  that  for  one  or  two  days  all  sheltered 
portions  of  the  bay  would  be  ice-bound,  and  the  succeed- 
ing days  the  surface  of  the  water  covered  with  little  bergs 
and  sheet-ice,  like  an  Arctic  floe. 

The  12ih  of  February  had  been  as  balmy  as  an  English 
spring  day,  and  the  rays  of  the  sun  were  reflected  in  innu- 
merable colors  off  the  prismatic  surface  of  the  blocks  and 
cakes  of  ice  floating  seaward  with  the  retiring  tide.  The 
pungies  and  canoes  employed  in  oyster-dredging  floated 
listlessly  on  the  bosom  of  the  calm  water,  for  not  a  breath 
of  wind  fanned  their  snow-white  cotton  sails;  even  so  still 
was  the  atmosphere  that  their  crews'  voices  could  be  heard 
distinctly  at  distances  really  surprising ;  while  the  low  land 
of  Turtle-egg  Island,  Holland  and  Hooper's  Island,  from  the 
rarefied  state  <  f  the  atmosphere,  appeared  to  hang  suspend- 
ed in  the  air.  I  had  passed  the  afternoon  lounging  on  the 
beach  in  front  of  the  principal  store  on  Devil's  Island,  a 
spot  which  was  the  favorite  resort  of  old  and  young,  who 
had  time  to  spare  for  gossip.  Rising  from  a  leaning  posi- 
tion against  the  stern  of  a  boat,  which  I  had  assumed  the 
better  to  enjoy  the  perfect  peacefulness  of  the  scene  sur- 
rounding me,  I  was  about  to  retire  to  my  lodgings,  when 
I  casually  remarked,  addressing  my  language  to  no  one  in 
particular,  that  if  this  weather  continued,  as  I  believed  it 
would,  there  /as  an  end  to  duck-shooting  in  this  locality 
for  the  season.  An  old  weather-beaten  fellow,  who,  from 
his  appearance,  had  seen  over  sixty  winters  with  very  few 
summers,  put  in  an  oar  in  the  way  of  conversation,  and 
vouchsafed  me  the  information  that, "  If  he  knew  any  thing 
of  the  looks  of  the  sky  and  water,  with  the  next  run  of  the 
tide  we  would  have  a  gale,  and  cold  enough  to  take  a  fel- 
low's nose  off."  This  prophecy  I  thought  little  of  at  the 
time,  but  an  hour  or  two  before  midnight  it  was  verified. 


WILD -FOWL  SHOOTING. 


251 


Sudden  squalls  of  wind  and  rain  commenced  soon  after 
dark,  and  continued,  with  gradually  increasing  violence,  till 
it  blew  a  full  gale  of  wind ;  then  the  thermometer  fell  con- 
siderably below  freezing-point,  and  the  breeze  suddenly 
chopped  round  from  south-west  to  north-west. 

All  was  commotion  now  in  the  little  settlement ;  for  ev- 
ery available  hand  was  summoned  to  beach  the  smaller 
crafts  in  the  roadstead,  or  make  the  larger  ones  secure 
with  additional  moorings  and  anchors.  Of  course,  I  turned 
out  with  the  others  to  assist  in  saving  property,  and  a  wild- 
er scene  could  scarcely  be  imagined.  On  the  shores  broke 
the  white  rollers,  hissing  out  with  compressed  breath  their 
wrath  at  being  deprived  of  their  expected  pleasure  of  de- 
struction ;  the  wild  boatmen  pulled,  hauled,  and  swore  at 
every  obstacle  that  increased  their  labor;  while  the  pitch- 
pino  torch  blazed  up,  or  partially  died  out,  as  the  gale  in- 
creased or  diminished  in  violence.  After  a  couple  of  hours' 
work  the  various  crafts  were  deemed  safe,  and  the  crowd 
retired  to  their  respective  domiciles,  leaving  me  to  enjoy 
the  grandeur  of  the  scene  alone. 

The  bustle,  confusion,  and  noise  that  had  previously  sur- 
rounded me  had  at  the  time  absorbed  all  my  attention ; 
now,  however,  all  was  still,  save  the  raging  of  the  elements ; 
and  above  its  great  voice  I  could  hear  one  incessant  sound, 
most  dear  to  the  sportsman's  ear,  the  hum  of  innumerable 
wild  fowl  calling  to  each  other.  I  retired  with  a  light  step 
and  happy  anticipations,  for  I  looked  forward  to  the  mor- 
row as  certain  to  afford  me  abundant  employment  for  my 


gun. 


Next  morning  I  was  not  disappointed,  for  every  bay  and 
inlet  was  covered  with  game,  even  the  open  water  in  front 
of  the  village,  within  gunshot  of  the  shore ;  and  intermin- 
gled among  the  flaet  of  oyster-boats  were  numerous  flocks 
of  wild  fowl  to  be  seen.     Leaving  the  birds  near  home  for 


. 

-     - 

s     -£iJ^ 

262 


PliAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


the  village  juveniles  to  practice  at,  I  started  for  a  favorite 
stand,  which,  with  the  present  wind,  was  certain  to  bo 
abundantly  frequented.  So  I  found  it,  and  soon  had  a 
bag  sufficiently  large  to  satisfy  the  most  greedy  sportsman. 
While  siiooting,  the  incessant  calling  of  wild  swans  had 
attracted  my  attention,  and  thus,  directed  by  sound  about 
half  a  mile  oif,  upon  the  edge  of  the  floe  ice,  I  could  distin- 
guish several  flocks  of  tiicse  noble  birds,  each  of  them  com- 
posed of  about  twenty  members.  Anxious  as  I  was  to  ob- 
tain a  few  specimens,  I  was  not  sufficiently  sanguine  to  be- 
lieve that  I  had  the  slightest  prospect  of  success,  for,  from 
the  continued  fusillade  I  had  kept  up,  they  must  have  be- 
come well  aware  of  my  hiding-place.  Still  I  could  not  re- 
sist admiring  the  scene,  one  not  often  seen  by  British 
sportsmen :  a  vast  expanse  of  frozen  salt-water,  here  and 
there  opened  by  air-holes,  and  the  distant  tidal  current  cov- 
ered with  bergs  of  every  shape,  nearly  all  affording  resting- 
places  for  the  noble  game.  The  Chesapeake  never  looked 
more  attractive  to  me  than  that  day  ;  for,  although  the  cold 
was  intense,  the  atmosphere  was  clear,  so  that  the  sharp 
points  and  rugged  outlines  of  each  bei-g  stood  out  clearly 
defined,  while  the  distant  swamp -pines,  with  their  dark- 
green  foliage,  formed  a  charming  contrast  to  the  other  por- 
tions of  the  snow-and-ice-covered  landscape.  With  my 
field-glass — by-the-way,  a  most  important  part  of  all  sports- 
men's outfit — long  and  patiently  I  watched  the  habits  of  the 
pure  white  beauties ;  and  with  what  pleasure  they  appeared 
to  enjoy  their  ablutions  in  the  frigid  water,  one  moment 
splashing  and  throwing  it  far  and  wide,  at  another  pursu- 
ing rivals  of  whom  they  were  jealous,  or  cooing  notes  of 
love  or  admiration  over  mates  in  whose  favor  they  wished 
to  establish  themselves.  Again,  they  would  rise  and  flap 
their  broad  pinions,  as  if  to  test  that  their  exertions  had 
not  deprived  them  of  the  powers  of  flight ;  or,  struggling 


liliJBW 


SHOOTINO   WILD  SWANS. 


263 


on  to  some  floating  berg,  rest  from  exertions,  with  their 
graceful  necks  and  heads  buried  in  their  abundant  snowy 
down. 

The  place  in  which  I  was  secreted  was  an  isthmus  dense- 
covered  with  dwarf  water-alder,  and  connecting  a  peninsu- 
la, almost  an  island,  with  a  narrow,  long  promontory  from 
the  main-land.  Under  ordinary  circumstances,  it  would 
have  been  as  wet  as  a  well  saturated  sponge ;  but  frost  had 
placed  its  iron  hand  upon  the  moisture,  and  rendered  the 
use  of  my  water-proof  sheet  almost  superfluous — a  circum- 
stance that  advantageously  contrasted  with  what  it  might 
have  been.  About  midday,  certainly  not  later,  it  became 
apparent  that  some  important  change  was  about  to  take 
place  among  the  swans,  for  their  voices  became  louder  and 
more  frequent,  and  the  before  scattered  groups  concen- 
trated themselves  into  closely  -  packed  coteries.  This  I 
noted,  and  thought  it  foretold  change  in  the  weather.  My 
surmises  soon  proved  correct,  for  the  north  wind,  which 
had  subsided  into  a  calm,  was  soon  after  replaced  by  a 
southerly  breeze,  whose  influence  I  had  scarcely  felt  when 
the  swans  in  succession  stretched  their  wings,  and,  with 
heavy,  measured  stroke,  raised  themselves  in  the  air,  first 
circling  round  in  gradually  increasing  circles;  ultimately, 
with  outstretched  neck,  shaping  their  course  right  over  my 
ambuscade.  The  moments  of  suspense,  though  few,  were 
sufficient  to  make  the  heart  beat  faster ;  but  my  hopes  were 
not  disappointed  or  long  delayed.  At  length  I  could  see  dis- 
tinctly the  eye  of  the  leader,  then  of  the  followers;  next  mo- 
ment I  was  on  my  knees,  and  with  each  barrel  killed  a  bird. 

With  intervals  of  ten  or  twelve  minutes,  a  second  and 
third  flock  came  within  range,  and  were  treated  similarly; 
but  here  I  ceased,  for  I  had  enough,  and  to  spare.  Had  I 
desired,  I  could,  without  doubt,  have  killed  three  times  the 
number. 


,  I 
I*     . !  Wl 


254 


rRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


Although  it  be  two  years  since  the  events  above  narrated 
occurred,  the  impression  on  my  memory  is  so  distinct  and 
pleasurable,  that  I  feel  convinced  it  never  will  be  forgotten. 
In  fact,  I  regard  it  as  one  of  those  episodes  that  give  an 
ample  reward  to  the  sportsman  for  weeks,  yes,  months,  of 
lack  of  success  and  wasted  toil. 


CANADA   GOOSE. 

The  Canada  goose  is  a  magnificent  bird,  and  although 
smaller  than  that  of  Europe,  occupies  the  same  place  to  the 
New  World  that  the  common  wild  goose  docs  to  the  Old. 
The  plumage  is  of  a  dark  slate-color  along  the  neck,  breast, 
and  stomach,  gradually  becoming  black  toward  the  back 
and  wing  coverts ;  the  head,  also,  is  black,  with  a  clear 
white  ring  around  the  throat,  immediately  behind  the  junc- 
tion with  the  head.  Its  average  weight  is  about  twelve 
pounds. 

From  thirty -five  degrees  of  north  latitude  the  Canada 
goose  is  found  in  greater  or  less  numbers,  according  to 
season  and  the  closeness  of  settlements,  to  beyond  the  Arc- 
tic Circle,  their  fa.  orite  breeding -places  being  upon  the 
marshes  and  lakes  from  whence  flow  the  rivers  that  enter 
the  Polar  Seas.  Consequently  they  are  not  to  be  found 
upon  the  popular  shooting-grounds  or  waters  of  the  United 
States  and  Canada  until  severe  weather  has  set  in  over  the 
Hudson  Bay  territory,  when  they  migrate  in  thousands 
south,  either  following  the  coast-line  or  the  course  of  rivers 
flowing  from  north  to  south. 

On  the  Chesapeake  Bay  and  the  various  inlets  along  the 
coast  of  Virginia  and  North  Carolina,  I  have  seen  them  in 
great  numbers ;  still  the  wet  prairies  of  the  West  exceed 
all  other  localities  in  the  immensity  of  hordes  that  visit 
them. 

During  the  middle  of  the  day,  unless  the  weather  has 


CANADA   OOOSF. 


255 


suddenly  changed  from  mild  to  severe  cold,  their  pursuit 
will  be  found  comparatively  useless;  but  in  the  afternoon 
and  morning  in  early  winter,  or  at  the  commencement  of 
spring,  if  the  sportsman  secrete  himself  in  some  lonely,  out- 
of-the-way  corn-field,  he  is  almost  certain  to  obtain  numer- 
ous shots.  Still  it  is  very  rare  for  a  day  to  be  passed  on 
the  prairies  wild  fowl  shooting  without  an  opportunity  oc- 
curring to  fire  into  a  flock  of  wild  geese. 


1 


CANADA   GOOSE 


If  maimed  birds  are  kept,  or  the  young  reared  in  captiv- 
ity, they  answer  magnificently  as  decoys;  for  not  a  flock 
of  wild  geese  or  wild  duck  will  pass  within  seeing  or  heur- 
ing  of  them  without  leaving  their  course  to  join  their  ranks. 

An  old  gander,  as  may  be  expected,  is  tough  and  hard ; 
but  the  young  bird,  on  the  contrary,  is  a  great  delicacy, 
and  well  worth  any  amount  of  labor  it  may  have  cost  to 
obtain. 

In  November,  '65,  in  an  afternoon  and  morning  shooting, 
a  friend  and  self  killed  eighty-five  wild  geese,  as  well  as  a 
large  number  of  duck.  The  scene  of  this  performance  was 
a  corn-field,  the  weather  bitterly  cold,  with  snow  flying,  al- 


266 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


though  the  previous  week  had  been  warm  enough  for  sum- 
mer clothing. 

As  I  am  about  to  say  so  much  on  mallard-shooting,  and 
the  advice  I  will  give  the  sportsman  in  reference  to  their 
pursuit  being  equally  applicable  to  the  Canada  goose,  I 
trust  the  reader  will  pardon  my  not  farther  extending  my 
remarks. 


; 


Brent  Geese  are  well  known  in  the  United  Kingdom, 
yet  they  are  comparatively  scarce  among  us  in  numbers, 
when  compared  to  the  immense  flocks  that  are  to  be  found 
in  autumn  and  spring  scattered  all  over  the  Western  prairies, 
or  in  winter  and  early  spring  along  the  Atlantic  sea-board  of 
the  United  States.  From  their  size  the  novice  will  fre- 
quently mistake  them  for  wild  geese,  but  a  little  experience 
will  soon  teach  him  that  there  is  a  marked  difference  in  their 
flap  of  wing,  and  in  the  figures  they  form  while  in  flight. 
Again,  the  large  white  marking  on  the  lower  portion  of  the 
breast  and  along  the  stomach,  conspicuous  for  a  great  dis- 
tance, soon  tells  the  tale  that  they  are  not  the  more  coveted 
larger  species. 

Another  characteristic  of  this  species  is,  that  they  are  far 
less  wary  than  geese,  and  appear  to  be  gifted  with  such  an 
amount  of  curiosity,  that  even  when  they  are  almost  out  of 
sight  of  the  sportsman  they  may  frequently  be  recalled 
within  gunshot  by  waving  a  pocket-handkerchief,  or  in- 
ducing your  retriever  to  run  about  after  sticks,  provided 
always  that  the  shooter  is  out  of  sight. 

I  remember  such  a  circumstance  occurring  to  me  while 
on  the  lower  portion  of  the  Chesapeake  Bay,  State  of  Mary- 
land. In  the  society  of  a  veteran  wild-fowl  shooter,  I  start- 
ed one  bitterly  cold  morning  to  shoot  wild  fowl  at  a  place 
most  appropriately  designated  the  Mussel-hole.  From  sun- 
rise till  two  hours  afterward  we  enjoyed  most  excellent 


!  I 


AN  ''OLD  DODGSy 


257 


sport,  but  soon  .a  tliaw  commenccfl,  accompanied  by  a  soft, 
balmy,  southerly  wind,  which  appeared  to  have  the  im- 
mediate effect  on  all  the  wild  fowl,  with  the  exception  of 
an  enormous  flock  of  brent,  of  sending  them  off  seaward. 
For  over  an  hour  we  patiently  waited  for  a  change  in  the 
atmosphere,  but  no  such  occurred ;  and  we  were  commen- 
cing to  chew  the  cud  of  disappointment,  when  evidences  be- 
came conspicuous  that  the  brent  also  intended  making  a 
flitting.  After  a  deal  of  conversation  in  their  ranks,  much 
pluming  of  feathers,  and  a  great  amount  of  flapping  of 
wings,  the  whole  phalanx  rose  together,  circled  round 
twice,  and  departed  seaward.  My  never  loquacious  com- 
panion silently  watched  them  from  behind  our  hiding-place, 
and  muttered  to  himself  an  oath.  At  length  he  exclaimed, 
with  some  excitement,  "  I'll  try  the  old  dodge !"  So,  pull- 
ing out  the  dirtiest  remnant  of  a  scarlet  pocket-handker- 
chief, he  commenced  waving  it  overhead.  I  must  acknowl- 
edge that  I  was  rather  surprised,  for  I  had  never  seen  wild 
fowl  called  up  in  such  a  remarkable  manner.  But  the  ex- 
perienced veteran  was  right:  the  now  distant  flock  slowly 
but  gradually  turned,  and,  after  several  times  shifting  their 
course,  ultimately  headed  directly  for  our  hiding-place. 
Closer  and  closer  we  cowered  behind  our  screen ;  nearer 
and  nearer  the  game  came  within  reach  of  our  destructive 
weapons.  Our  breath  was  held,  and  our  impatience  curb- 
ed, till  V  Q  leaders  of  the  host  were  but  forty  yards  off', 
when  both  simultaneously  rose  and  poured  in  four  barrels. 
In  a  moment  after  seven  birds  were  struggling  or  lying 
dead  upon  the  water,  while  the  remainder,  instead  of  in- 
stantly leaving,  hovered  over  their  stricken  comrades  till 
both  of  us  had  obtained  a  second  double  shot.  I  have  lontj 
known  plover  to  be  guilty  of  such  foolish  want  of  regard 
to  their  safety ;  never  previously  brent. 


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258 


|i  : 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


THE   MALLARD. 


In  my  protracted  rambles  about  the  world,  I  know  no 
portion  where  the  mallard  can  not  be  found.  I  have  al- 
ways been  passionately  fond  of  wild-fowl  shooting,  and  the 
bags  that  I  have  made  in  the  United  States  and  Canada  of 
this  noble  bird  far  exceeded  those  obtained  elsewhere.  As 
wild  fowl  are  nearly  all  migratoiy  by  inclination,  or  are  com- 
pelled to  be  so  from  the  changes  of  the  seasons,  it  is  of  great 
importance  that  you  should  visit  the  various  haunts  at  the 
proper  periods  of  the  year.  However,  the  rule  is,  for  suc- 
cessfully carrying  on  war  against  the  web-footed  families, 
go  north  in  summer  and  south  in  winter.  In  June,  July, 
and  August,  the  wild  -  rice  fields  of  the  numerous  laby. 
rinths  of  lakes  of  Minnesota  and  the  North-west  territo- 
ry, perfectly  swarm  with  wild  fowl ;  while  in  December  and 
January,  they  will  be  found  equally  numerous  on  the  largo 
bayous  and  lagoons  that  surround  the  mouth  of  the  Missis- 
sippi. Of  course,  in  the  intermediate  portion  of  country 
between  Minnesota  and  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  during  the  sea- 
sons of  migration,  splendid  days'  shooting  can  be  obtained  ; 
but  the  stay  of  the  birds  is  so  short  that  it  might  not  com- 
pensate for  a  special  visit.  Where  thousands  are  to  be 
seen  to-day,  not  a  dozen  will  be  met  to-morrow ;  but  if  you 
should  happen  in  the  spring  and  autumn  to  be  in  either  of 
the  States  of  Illinois,  Iowa,  or  Indiana,  when  the  frost  and 
ice  are  breaking  up  in  spring,  or  when  winter  makes  its 
first  appearance,  you  may  with  safety  calculate  on  having 
some  of  the  finest  sport.  A  year  or  two  since,  when  in 
Illinois  in  November,  a  sudden  change  took  place  in  the 
weather,  and  although  the  morning  was  ushered  in  mild 
and  warm,  by  noon  it  was  snowing,  with  a  gale  of  wind 
blowing  from  the  north.  From  experience  I  knew  that 
Buch  a  day  was  not  to  be  wasted  over  the  fire.    I  got  on 


^  r 


DUCKS  IN  THOUSANDS. 


259 


my  shooting-ground  with  a  very  large  supply  of  ammuni- 
tion, and  in  two  or  three  hours  I  had  +o  cease,  as  my  stock 
was  exhausted.  My  stand  was  in  a  field  of  Indian  corn 
that  had  been  gathered  into  shocks,  from  the  back  of  one 
of  which  I  took  shelter  from  the  blast  as  well  as  concenl- 
ment.  Never  shall  I  forget  the  scene.  The  ducks  came  in 
thousands,  all  flying  before  the  wind,  and  if  a  dozen  guns 
had  been  there  instead  of  one,  abundant  work  would  have 
been  found  for  all.  On  another  occasion,  in  the  same  local- 
ity, two  friends  of  mine  killed  in  two  or  three  hours  in  the 


THE   MALLARD. 


evening,  and  in  an  hour  and  a  hnlf  the  succeeding  morning, 
eighty-four  brace  of  mallard  duck.  In  the  spring  of  1866, 
when  in  Iowa,  the  first  day  of  thaw,  I  went  for  a  stroll, 
scarcely  expecting  to  find  game ;  but  when  I  got  on  the 
prairie  land,  I  was  perfectly  astonished  at  the  clouds  of 
wild  fowl  arriving  from  the  south,  some  of  the  ponds  being 
so  densely  covered  with  duck  that  the  surface  could  scarce- 
ly be  seen.  These  birds  were  all  coming  from  the  south, 
where  they  had  passed  the  winter.  If  any  of  our  readers 
intend  to  go  in  for  work,  and  do  not  object  to  roughing  it, 


■■■  i- 

■X    i 


260 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


I  should  most  decidedly  s;  that  the  wild-fowl  shooting  is 
good  enough  to  justify  a  vi^it.  But  let  him  not  be  induced 
to  keep  in  the  vicinity  of  settlements;  rather  let  him  and  his 
attendants  commence  housekeeping  on  the  margin  of  one  of 
the  northern  Minnesota  lakes,  if  in  summer  (remember  one 
that  produces  an  abundance  of  wild  rice) ;  but  if  the  reverse 
season  should  be  selected,  the  southern  lagoons  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi will  afford  him  abundant  sport,  and  any  of  the  hos- 
pitable planters  will  deem  it  a  favor  if  he  will  do  them  the 
honor  of  making  their  home  his. 

When  living  on  the  upper  portion  of  Lake  Couchachin, 
Simcoe  district,  from  the  beauty  of  an  afternoon  and  the 
coolness  of  the  weather,  T  was  induced  to  shoulder  my  gun, 
and  start  cross  country  to  Lake  St.  John,  with  the  hope  of 
killing  some  ducks  to  add  to  the  fare  of  our  already  sumpt- 
uous table.     I  had  never  visited  this  place  before,  and  as  I 

left  the  clearing,  the  last  words  of  H were,  "  Take  care 

you  do  not  get  lost."  With  an  amount  of  confidence,  "  usu- 
ally denoting  ignorance,"  I  responded  that  I  was  too  old  to 
be  guilty  of  such  a  green  proceeding.  With  little  trouble 
I  found  my  destination.  Game  was  abundant  and  tame, 
they  being  overcome  with  that  langour  which  makes  them 
perfectly  indifferent,  and  which  is  so  frequently  the  pre- 
cursor of  bad  and  stormy  weather.  In  a  little  time  my 
bag  was  heavy,  too  much  so  to  be  agreeable,  and,  consider- 
ing that  I  had  committod  havoc  enough,  I  determined  to 
retrace  my  steps.  Another  and  yet  another  duck  would 
come  in  my  way,  and  present  such  fascinating  shots  that 
I  could  not  resist,  so  that  by  the  time  I  had  returned  to 
the  place  where  I  first  struck  the  water  I  was  completely 
loaded. 

ILave  any  of  my  readers  ever  walked  two  or  three  miles, 
with  from  eight  to  a  dozen  mallard  ducks  in  the  skirt  of  his 
shooting-coat  ?    If  so,  they  undoubtedly  have  vivid  recol- 


fc  I 


LOST  IN  A  FOltEST. 


261 


lections  of  their  weight.  If  still  a  tyro,  I  advise  you  to 
make  a  trial,  as  a  new  sensation  will  be  experienced,  partic- 
ularly if  the  ground  is  soft  and  muddy.  I  had  scarcely  re- 
entered the  sombre  forest,  when  my  spaniel  found  some 
ruffed  grouse,  and  treed  them  a  short  way  ofE  on  the  left. 
A  brace  of  these  delicate  birds  would  be  a  most  acceptable 
addition  to  a  future  dinner;  so,  without  hesitation,  I  struck 
off  to  the  right,  to  cultivate  their  more  intimate  acquaint- 
ance. Advancing  upon  them  unwarily,  the  covey  flushed, 
but  flew  only  a  short  distance.  I  thought  my  chances  so 
remarkably  good  that  I  would  make  another  try,  but  again 
the  watchfulness  of  my  feathered  friend  foiled  me.  With 
a  malediction  on  my  lips,  I  turned  to  retrace  my  steps,  but 
for  my  life  I  could  not  tell  in  which  direction  my  route  lay. 
To  be  lost,  pooh,  pooh  !  what  nonsense  !  I  was  not  still  a 
school-boy,  and  had  been  too  long  cut  loose  from  my  moth- 
er's apron-strings.  The  whole  thing  appeared  too  absurd 
and  ridiculous.  Off  I  went,  as  I  thought,  straight  back  to 
the  place  I  had  left.  I  must  cross  my  own  path  in  a  few 
minutes — only  a  few  steps  farther !  I  am  certainly  close 
now !  and  thus  arguing  and  consoling,  I  proceeded.  By 
degrees  it  began  to  dawn  upon  me,  though  much  against 
my  inclination,  that  I  was  "certain  sure  out  of  ray  reckon- 
ing." The  more  convinced  I  became  of  the  uncertainty  of 
my  position,  the  more  I  became  excited.  At  first  I  walked 
faster,  talked  to  myself,  and  tried,  though  I  fear  very  indif- 
ferently, to  treat  the  whole  affair  as  an  admirable  joke. 
But  soon  my  countenance  became  elongated,  and  a  very 
gloomy  expression  usurped  the  place  of  my  previous  smile. 
For  change,  I  shouted,  with  the  hope  some  one  might  hear 
me — a  very  improbable  thing — except,  perchance,  some  sol- 
itary Indian  should  be  out  in  attendance  on  his  bear  or  oth- 
er traps.  At  last  I  became  fairly  desperate,  and  broke  into 
a  headlong  run :  the  pace  was  too  fast  to  keep  up ;  fairly 


262 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


blown,  weaned,  and  exhausted,  T  sat  down  on  the  trunk  of 
a  fallen  tree.  The  depression  I  felt  will  never  be  forgotten. 
The  terrible  loneliness,  the  perfect  solitude  and  monotony, 
with  the  certahity  of  having  to  pass  the  night  al  fresco, 
made  my  frame  of  mind  any  thing  but  enviable.  The  mos- 
quitoes, which  previously  I  had  scarcely  noticed,  now  put 
in  a  claim  for  attention,  my  wretched  plight  seeming  to 
give  them  confidence,  for  they  attacked  me  front,  rear,  and 
flanks,  in  columns.  It  was  useless  to  attempt  to  drive  them 
off;  their  confidence  would  have  been  most  commendable, 
if  engaged  in  a  better  cause.  Night  was  rapidly  approach- 
ing, and  the  giant  shadows  had  become  indistinct  in  their 
outline,  mingling  together  in  one  dark  gloom.  Distant 
rumbling  of  thunder  portended  a  coming  storm,  reminding 
me  that  I  had  better  make  all  snug,  as  a  dirty  night  was  at 
hand. 

I  soon  found  a  prostrate  monarch  of  the  forest,  under 
whose  side  I  expected  to  find  comparative  shelter.  In  a 
short  space  I  had  gathered  sufficient  debris  and  inflamma- 
ble matter  to  make  a  fire,  determining  to  sacrifice  one  of 
my  ducks  to  the  implacable  tormentor,  hunger.  Out  of 
the  few  matches  I  had  four  missed,  or  would  not  light; 
but  two  more  remained.  With  wliat  care  and  anxiety  did 
I  try  the  others !  Alas  I  the  head  of  No.  5  flew  off,  and 
but  one  remained  to  save  me  from  Erebus,  and  the  incur- 
sions of  some  erratic  midnight  prowler.  With  the  utmost 
care  I  undertook  the  trying  ordeal  of  squeezing  myself  into 
a  corner,  sheltering  my  hands  with  ray  cap,  and  sacrificing 
a  portion  of  the  last  letter  from  my  lady-love  for  tinder. 
Success  rewarded  me,  and  soon  the  surroundings  were 
brought  out  in  deep  relief  by  the  brilliant  glow,  remind- 
ing me  of  the  deep  contrast  of  light  and  shadow  in  one  of 
the  much-admired  pictures  by  Rembrandt.  The  rain  was 
not  long  delayed,  and  after  a  few  premonitory  drops  came 


A  THUNDEE-aTORM. 


263 


down  as  if  the  flood-gates  of  heaven  had  been  opened,  ao 
compauied  by  the  loudest  thunder  and  most  dazzling  light- 
ning. There  is  nothing  that  more  powerfully  impresses 
luan  with  the  omnipotent  power  of  the  Creator,  or  with  his 
own  utter  insignificance,  than  being  placed  alone,  unpro- 
tected from  the  v/arriiig  elements,  listening  to  the  dismem- 
berment of  limbs  from  the  parent  tree-trunks  by  the  fury 
of  the  blast,  or  the  scathing  power  of  the  electric  fluid.  All 
my  efforts  to  keep  a  good  fire  were  futile — sleep  was  out  of 
the  question — while  the  incessant  attacks  of  the  mosquitoes 
made  me  restless  and  irritable.  No  sick  man  or  storm- 
tossed  mariner  ever  more  ardently  longed  for  break  of  day. 
The  night  appeared  endless,  and  doubts  of  whether  the  sun 
had  not  been  delayed  in  his  course,  or  taken  his  departure 
to  gladden  with  his  rays  the  inhabitants  of  other  planets, 
intruded  themselves.  At  last,  faint  lines  of  light  glimmered 
in  the  east,  foretelling  the  departure  of  darkness,  and  with 
greater  satisfaction  than  I  ever  previously  experienced,  I 
rose  from  my  wet  and  uncomfortable  resting-place.  To 
seek  my  lost  route  was  my  first  endeavor,  and  for  more 
than  an  hour  I  v  andered  without  success.  At  last,  when 
almost  yielding  to  despair,  I  struck  the  margin  of  the  lake 
I  had  been  shooting  on  the  evening  before;  and  what  a 
beautiful,  enthralling  scene  lay  before  me !  The  placid  wa- 
ter only  rippled  where  the  wild  duck  sported,  or  the  vora- 
cious fish  pursued  to  the  surface  their  destined  prey ;  while 
the  shadow  of  each  tree  that  grew  near  the  margin  was  so 
distinctly  reflected  that  the  minutest  limb  or  twig  could  be 
traced  with  perfect  precision. 

I  stood  entranced,  and  so  great  was  my  admiration,  that 
nothing  could  have  induced  me  to  disturb  the  harmony 
of  the  picture  by  destroying  the  life,  or  disturbing  the  re- 
treat, of  the  beautiful  creatures  which  formed  its  promi- 
nent features.    To  the  left  were  several  deer  and  fawns, 


w 


26'* 


rRAlHIE  AND  FOREST. 


I 


knee-deep,  feeding  upon  the  tender,  succulent  leaves  of  the 
water-lily,  the  youngsters  occasionally  chasing  one  another 
in  sport,  and  unknowingly  practicing  and  developing  those 
muscles  which  Nature  intends  to  be  their  protection  in  the 
hour  of  danger;  their  beautiful,  graceful  mothers  frequent- 
ly raising  their  eyes  from  their  morning  I'cpast  with  ma- 
ternal solicitude  for  their  progenies'  safety.  What  sports- 
man could  witness  such  a  scene  without  feelings  of  the 
greatest  pleasure  ?  and,  in  my  opinion,  unless  hunger  could 
be  pleaded,  he  would  be  unworthy  of  the  name  who  could 
desecrate  the  hallowedness  and  peacef ulness  of  the  view  by 
wantonly  shedding  blood.  Long  I  gazed  with  feelings  of 
rapture,  congratulating  myself  in  having  at  last  discovered 
a  hunter's  elysium.  Uncertainty  in  reference  to  ray  posi- 
tion had  vanished,  as  without  trouble,  by  following  the 
margin  of  the  water,  I  could  find  my  back  track.  At  last 
hunger  told  me  it  was  time  to  think  of  home  and  breakfast. 
An  hour  after  found  me  in  my  bedroom  undergoing  the 
luxury  of  a  good  wash,  preparatory  to  an  ample  meal.  My 
friend,  who  was  rejoiced  to  see  me,  having  dreaded  the  in- 
convenience of  hunting  me  up,  listened  with  great  pleasure 
to  my  glowing,  and  perhaps,  unintentionally  exas^gerated 
description  of  all  I  had  seen  and  endured.  On  one  point, 
however,  we  were  resolved  —  an  immediate  visit  to  the 
beautiful  locality  I  had  so  lately  left.  Before  a  month  had 
elapsed  many  visits  had  been  paid,  and  heavy  game-bags, 
or  still  heavier  fish-baskets,  were  the  result.  Game  is  still 
abundant  near  the  region  where  my  night  adventure  took 
place,  but  like  every  locality,  the  hunter  will  have  to  pro- 
t*ed  a  little  farther  beyond  the  bounds  of  civilization ;  for 
as  certain  as  the  red  man  vanishes  before  the  stream  of 
emigration,  or  the  morning  mists  before  the  gladdening 
rays  of  the  rising  sun,  game  flies  from  the  sound  of  the 
squatter's  axe,  or  the  sharp  report  of  the  deadly  rifle. 


WET,  WEARY,  AND  FATIGUED. 


^G5 


of 


In  Central  Illinois,  a  thousand  miles  or  more  from  the 
scene  of  my  last  mishap,  I  have  had  wonderful  mallard- 
shooting,  so  will  attempt  to  describe  one  of  my  fortunate 
essays  on  a  November  evening.  The  wind  was  eminently 
suited  for  the  purpose  of  exhibiting  a  large  show  of  birds ; 
it  being  dark,  stormy,  and  threatening,  with  a  rapid  de- 
crease in  the  temperature,  strongly  indicative  of  frost  or 
snow.  In  truth,  if  I  had  made  a  selection,  I  could  scarcely 
have  chosen  better  adapted  weather.  After  a  tiresome  and 
unprofitable  day,  we  found  ourselves  back  at  the  requisite 
station,  wet,  weary,  and  fatigued,  and  not  by  any  means  in 
the  best  of  spirits ;  still,  I  did  not  wish  to  be  the  proposer 
of  an  adjournment  of  my  promised  exhibition,  and  my 
friend  felt  placed  upon  his  mettle,  lest  he  should  appear  to 
suffer  more  from  his  long  tramp  than  myself,  or  indicate 
less  capacity  for  enduring  the  fatigues  of  the  hunting-field. 
How  often,  if  we  could  read  one  another's  internal  feelings, 
should  we  find  that  external  appearances  are  only  assumed, 
and  that  the  companion  who  ostensibly  looks  as  fresh  and 
capable  of  traveling  for  hours  as  he  was  at  the  time  of 
starting,  is  suffering  from  extreme  lassitude  and  disinclina- 
tion to  more  exertion,  only  he  is  restrained  from  confessing 
his  weakness  by  a  certain  amour  propre,  and  repugnance 
to  acknowledge  himself  beaten ;  at  least,  I  speak  from  my 
own  experience,  and  I  believe  that  the  majority  of  men  are 
similarly  constituted.  If  men  would  but  give  the  same  at- 
tention, the  same  pertinacious  assiduity  to  business  affairs 
that  are  bestowed  by  its  devotees  on  field-sports,  it  can  not 
be  doubted  that  their  fortune  in  amassing  wealth  would  be 
equal  to  their  success  in  filling  game-bags. 

As  the  sun  dipped  in  the  western  horizon,  or  as  near 
as  possible  to  that  time  —  murky,  dark,  threatening  clouds 
preventing  the  sun  from  being  seen  —  we  entered  the  wet, 
marshy  margin  which  bounded  our  future  scene  of  opera- 

12 


■■::i ' 


266 


PIUIRIE  AND  FOimST. 


■A 


tions.  With  much  difficulty,  and  the  energetic  use  of  all 
the  vim  left  in  us,  we  progressed  slowly  and  steadily,  till  wc 
reached  the  edge  of  the  water,  where,  ensconcing  ourselves 
in  the  centre  of  some  of  the  scattered  water-loving  brush 
which  vegetated  in  the  vicinity,  we  awaited  the  result. 

Permit  me,  kind  reader,  to  deviate  from  my  narrative, 
and  give  a  hint  to  all  who  love  the  gun  that  they  may  find 
useful  in  their  future  essays  against  all  descriptions  of  game. 
I  have  heard  sportsmen  and  those  gentlemen  of  experience 
condemn  Colonel  Hawker  for  impressing  upon  his  pupils 
the  necessity  of  particular  attention  to  their  costume,  many 
thinking  he  devoted  too  much  time  and  pains  to  what  ap- 
peared to  them  a  very  unnecessary  desideratum.  If  any 
one  who  peruses  these  lines  should  be  of  that  impression, 
allow  me,  with  all  kindly  feeling,  to  take  an  opposite  stand, 
and  assert  that  there  is  nothing  which  will  more  certainly 
guarantee  your  success  than  paying  due  attention  to  wear- 
ing clothes  that  at  all  times  harmonize  with  the  coloring  of 
the  ground  over  which  you  are  about  to  shoot.  I  have  so 
many  times  had  convincing  proofs  of  the  efficacy  of  attend- 
ing to  this  important  point,  that  I  consider  it  scarcely  pos- 
sible to  impress  it  too  strongly  upon  the  minds  of  all.  An 
instance  I  will  state,  out  of  many  others  I  could  tell  of, 
which  I  think  will  prove  that  the  grounds  I  take  arc  strong, 
and  beyond  opposition.  While  sojourning  West  I  made 
the  acquaintance  of  a  good-hearted,  kind  gentleman  and 
thorough  sportsman,  whom  the  uncertainty  of  worldly  af- 
fairs had  reduced  much  in  pecuniary  circumstances.  In 
those  days,  although  I  had  experience,  still,  as  now,  I  had 
much  to  learn :  my  friend  was,  if  any  thing,  my  superior  as 
a  shot,  more  particularly  on  wild  fowl.  On  the  breaking 
up  of  winter  in  the  spring  of  '65  —  in  fact,  the  morning 
after  a  decided  thaw  had  set  in  —  he  arrived  at  my  house 
at  an  early  hour,  and  invited  me  to  accompany  him  on  the 


SUITABLE  COSTUME. 


267 


1-    '.. 


as 


•prairie  to  kill  duck.  For  some  time  previously  all  the  wa- 
ter that  was  stagnant,  or  had  but  slight  current,  had  been 
frozen,  and  there  being  in  consequence  no  feeding-ground 
for  the  broad-bills,  they  had  taken  their  departure  for  more 
hospitable  regions.  My  want  of  success  a  few  days  before 
caused  me  to  doubt  if  better  results  could  be  obtained  on 
this  occasion,  but  being  aware  that  H was  better  post- 
ed on  these  matters  than  any  man  in  the  vicinity,  I  shoul- 
dered my  ten-bore,  straddled  my  Indian  pony,  and  started 
for  what  he  considered  the  most  appropriate  place  for  do- 
ing havoc.  On  reaching  the  confines  of  the  prairie,  wo 
found  that  duck  had  come  in,  and  in  myriads.  In  no  di- 
rection could  we  gaze  without  seeing  flights  in  those  strange 
mathematical  figures  which  they  always  assume  when  on 
the  wing.  We  at  once  held  a  council  of  war,  and  deter- 
mined to  leave  our  steeds  (having  first  spread  a  horse-blank- 
et on  each  to  protect  them  from  the  bitter  blast ;  for  every 
true  votary  of  Diana  is  humane,  though  the  virgin  goddess 
herself  displayed  but  little  of  this  virtue  to  the  unfort>  ite 
Actaion),  and  after  striking  the  wet  land,  to  separate,  one 
to  take  the  right  side  and  the  other  the  left.  My  clothes, 
through  chance,  were  admirably  suited  for  our  ^ ,  ork,  being 
composed  of  that  common  colored  velveteen  which  so  much 
resembles  withered  grass,  while  H 's  wei  u  dark  and  con- 
spicuous; without  doubt,  his  inattention  to  color  being 
caused  by  the  lightness  of  his  pocket  and  inability  to  pro- 
cure more  suitable  raiment.  After  four  hours'  shooting, 
on  comparing  results,  my  proceeds  wei'e  more  than  double 
his,  while  two  wild  geese — the  most  wary  of  all  game — were 
among  my  victims,  he  having  failed  to  get  a  shot  at  this 
noble  quarry.  I  was  at  a  loss  to  account  for  this  superior 
fortune,  and  might  have  remained  long  without  satisfactory 
reasons,  but  my  comrade's  experience  taught  him  that  the 
difEerence  of  color  in  our  costume  was  the  cause. 


TT 


268 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


But  to  return  to  our  work.  As  soon  as  wo  were  at  our 
stands,  wo  divested  ourselves  of  sliot-pouches  and  powder- 
horns,  hanging  them  on  the  bushes  that  wo  might  the  easier 
use  them  when  required — for,  once  the  game  commences  to 
arrive,  every  moment  is  of  vahie.  Before  we  had  been  sta- 
tionary many  minutes  a  few  stragglers  made  their  appear- 
ance, the  advance-guard,  doubtless,  of  the  main  body ;  some 
old  and  experienced  veterans,  I  should  think,  are  generally 
chosen  for  this  duty,  as  these  forerunners  are  wary  in  the 
extreme,  and  seldom  or  never  come  within  gunshot.  How- 
ever, we  were  not  detained  idle;  a  bunch  of  mallard  passed 
within  range,  and  a  salute  welcomed  their  visit ;  another 
and  another  party  rapidly  followed  in  such  quick  succes- 
sion that  it  wag  impossible  to  shoot  at  all.  These  birds,  so 
far,  had  only  flown  past,  and  as  night  approached  their 
numbers  increased,  and  we  being  probably  less  conspicuous 
from  decreasing  light,  the  open  water  at  our  side  was  chos- 
en for  their  resting-place.  Down  they  would  come  on  the 
water,  almost  imperiling  our  heads,  with  the  rustling  sound 
of  the  eagle  in  the  act  of  swooping  upon  his  prey,  while 
some  of  their  companions,  less  certain  of  the  security  of 
this  halting-place,  would  sweep  round  and  round  our  locale 
before  they  finally  selected  it.  As  soon  as  the  birds  struck 
the  water  they  would  commence  bathing  themselves,  flap- 
ping their  bodies  with  their  w-ings,  diving  with  short 
plunges,  and  cutting  so  many  capers  that  one  might  imagine 
them  stark,  staring  mad.  The  fact,  however,  is,  that  all 
this  apparent  eccentricity  is  caused  by  the  necessity  the 
ducks  feel  of  cleaning  themselves  of  the  insects  about  their 
plumage,  as  well  as  the  pleasure  they  experience  in  finding 
themselves  again  in  a  milder  climate,  with  abundance  of 
food  around  them,  after  enduring  a  hard  journey  from  the 
stormy  North,  protracted  possibly  through  a  day  and 
night 


DUCK  SHOOTING. 


260 


On  arrival,  therefore,  they  wash  themselves  and  arrange 
their  dress  before  commencing  their  meal — an  example  oth- 
er travelers  would  do  well  to  imitate.  But,  as  the  night 
advanced,  some  strangers  are  mixed  with  the  throng.  The 
dusky  duck,  the  bald-pate,  the  pin-tail,  the  blue  and  green 
winged  teal,  shoot  past  like  arrows  from  a  bow,  the  latter 
making,  with  the  rapid  motion  of  their  wings,  a  sound  not 
unlike  an  ungreased  wheel  or  hinge.  When  the  travelers 
are  satisfied  with  the  neighborhood,  they  dash  down  upon 
the  water,  causing  it  to  fly  in  spray  for  yards  around,  while 
the  first  arrivals  welcome  the  new-comers  with  innumera- 
ble quacks.  The  report  of  a  gun  then  will  scarcely  alarm 
them,  and,  if  they  should  rise,  in  a  moment  they  will  re-sot- 
tle,  doubtlessly  feeling  security  in  their  numbers. 

Tarry  a  little  longer,  friend ;  it  may  be  too  dark  to  shoot, 
but  a  better  sight  than  all  is  yet  before  you ;  be  not  im- 
patient— don't  you  hear  that  strange  voice  ?  The  geese  are 
coming — ay,  and  brant,  too  —  can't  you  hear  their  noisy 
chattering  ?  Move  not  an  inch ;  these  fellows  have  two  eyes, 
equal  in  excellence  to  the  whole  hundred  of  Arguses  placed 
together.  Soon  a  dark  line  is  seen  against  the  sky  advan- 
cing directly  to  us.  Honk !  honk !  honk  !  comes  from  its 
different  sections,  doubtlessly  inquiries  from  the  leader  as 
to  the  propriety  of  calling  a  halt.  Keep  close — stir  not, 
nor  think  of  shooting,  till  they  are  over  you.  You  can  not, 
perhaps,  see  them  fall,  but  the  splash  they  will  make  tells 
the  tale.  Another  and  another  regiment  of  these  worthies 
came  iii,  till  perfect  Erebus  inclosed  us,  and  further  shoot- 
ing became  impossible.  Our  dogs  had  been  busy  gather- 
ing the  slain,  and  a  noble  bag  we  had.  The  thermometer 
continuing  to  fall,  and  the  appearance  of  a  snow-storm  be- 
coming momentarily  more  marked,  we  mutually  determined 
to  desist,  well  satisfied  with  our  night's  recreation. 

It  took  time  and  trouble  satisfactorily  and  securely  to 


III 


I 


270. 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


sling  our  booty  ;  and  if  any  of  our  friends  could  have  se^n 
our  noble  selves  and  nags  strung  around  with  the  fruit  of 
our  labor,  they  could  not  have  suppressed  a  smile. 

While  resting  for  a  day  or  two  at  MacConib's,  Grand 
Prairie,  Northern  Illinois,  when  on  a  tour,  cattle  purchas- 
ing, at  the  commencement  of  winter,  one  of  the  hands,  on 
returning  to  dinner,  informed  me  that  both  ducks  and  geese 
were  arriving  in  immense  numbers.  Soon  my  No.  10  gun 
was  brought  out,  and  with  seven  pounds  of  shot,  and  my 
large  powder-flask  full,  I  started  in  the  direction  indicated. 
The  weather  since  morning  had  undergone  a  complete 
change,  for,  instead  of  a  damp,  mild  atmosphere,  snow  was 
falling  in  large  but  few  flaktd,  with  the  thermometer  below 
freezing-point. 

On  reaching  the  sloughs,  I  found  birds  abundant,  but  too 
wary  for  great  success;  so,  after  firing  a  few  long  shots 
with  indifferent  success,  I  determined  to  change  my  beat. 
I  had  remarked  the  day  before  a  field  of  a  few  acres  of  in- 
different Indian  corn  which  had  not  yet  been  gathered,  and 
which  was  excessively  wet  and  soft  from  the  dampness  of 
the  soil;  thither  I  determined  to  turn  my  footste^js,  and 
well  it  was  I  did  so,  for  a  finer  afternoon's  sport  I  have 
seldom  enjoyed.  Before  I  got  within  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
of  ray  destination,  I  could  see  duck  in  numerous  large  flights 
hovering  ovei'  the  place  in  question,  giving  hopes  of  sharp 
work.  On  gaining  the  edge  of  the  field  and  taking  a  pur- 
vey, I  found  the  ground  in  many  places  perfectly  covered 
with  birds,  and  strings  of  fresh  arrivals  coming  in  moment- 
arily— mallard,  butter-duck,  teal,  and  winter-duck  all  mak- 
ing the  best  use  of  their  bills  to  further  destroy  an  indiffer- 
ent crop.  After  a  survey  of  the  situation,  I  selected  a  stand, 
forming  a  screen  of  corn  sten.s  and  iron-weed,  and  scarce- 
ly was  I  ensconced,  when  the  honk  !  honk !  honk  !  of  a  dis- 
tant flock  of  wild  geese  told  me  that  the  wary  scoundrels 


A  NOBLE  BAG. 


^11 


were  en  avant.  However,  so  many  duck  came  within  easy 
shooting  distance  that.  I  could  not  resist  opening  fire,  and  I 
commenced  skirmishing  forthwith.  The  birds  appeared 
totally  devoid  of  fear,  either  of  the  report  of  my  gun  or  my 
presence,  and  flew  frequ*;ntly  within  fifteen  or  twenty  yards 
in  the  most  leisurely  and  business-like  manner.  Again  and 
again  I  loaded  and  shot,  till  my  barrels  got  agreeably  warm. 
Old  Nep,  my  retriever,  soon  had  the  ground  around  my 
feet  thickly  strewn  with  slain,  and  when  an  unfortunate 
duck,  less  severely  peppered  than  others,  or  only  broken- 
winged,  would  attempt  to  hobble  off,  Master  Nep  would 
give  him  a  pinch  about  the  regions  of  the  cranium  that  im- 
mediately reduced  the  most  obstreperous  to  submission. 
Geese  commenced  to  arrive  after  I  had  been  at  work  about 
half  an  hour ;  first  a  solitary  gander,  whose  coat  I  dusted 
and  secured,  next  two  or  three,  and  ultimately  half-dozens 
and  dozens,  while  the  duck  whistled  by  with  all  the  velocity 
of  sky-rockets.  By  4  p.m.  my  powder-flask  commenced  to 
show  signs  of  giving  out,  and  with  sickly,  hollow  rattle  pro- 
claimed that  the  remaining  charges  were  few.  To  prolong 
the  sport,  I  reduced  my  charges ;  but  still  the  end  was  draw- 
ing near,  and  could  only  be  delayed  a  few  minutes,  for  with 
regret,  though  the  snow  was  now  falling  fast  and  the 
weather  any  thing  but  enjoyable,  I  was  brought  to  a  halt. 
On  collecting  the  spoil,  I  had  nineteen  geese  and  forty-one 
ducks,  a  load  suflicient  for  a  Canadian  pony.  However,  I 
managed  to  stow  them  all  in  a  fence  corner,  there  to  remain 
till  sent  for,  and  most  unwillingly  I  turned  toward  home. 
My  last  view  of  the  field  was  of  broad-bills,  in  ever  increas- 
ing regiments,  rushing  on  to  the  devoted  crop,  and  I  have 
little  doubt,  if  my  ammunition  had  lasted,  that  I  could 
have  shown  a  score  that  had  seldom  previously  been 
made. 


272 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


'm 


BLACK    DUCK. 

The  black  duck  is  of  all  wild  fowl,  scarcely  even  except- 
ing geese  and  swans,  the  wildest  and  most  difficult  to  in- 
duce to  come  within  gunshot.  All  who  have  shot  upon 
the  low  sedgy  shores  of  the  Chesapeake  Bay  will  confirm 
this  assertion,  for  well  and  frequently  must  he  remem- 
ber to  have  watched  with  anxious  and  impatient  eye  this 
dusky  beauty  wheeling,  and  wheeling  in  gradually  con- 
tracting flights,  toward  the  well-guarded  decoys,  only  to 
leave  them  in  disgust  before  the  impatient  gunner  was 


BLACK   DUCK. 


rewarded  with  a  shot.  Moreover,  this  species  seems  to 
be  regarded  by  all  others  of  its  family  as  a  most  reliable 
advance-guard  in  whom  to  place  confidence,  for  often  have 
I  seen  both  red-heads  and  canvas-backs  retire  precipitous- 
ly from  the  blind  to  which  thoy  were  coming  direct,  when 
a  black  duck  has  been  obsorvod  giving  a  wide  berth  to  the 
decoys. 

Mr.  Copper  and  Mr.  Macrrady,  both  commanding  vessels 
in  the  Maryland  police  force,  than  whom  no  better  sports- 
men and  duck  shots  are  to  be  found,  have  often  assured  mo 
that  the  black  duck  was  the  most  difficult  of  all  the  water- 
fowl on  the  Chesapeake  to  kill ;  this  I  feel  assured  of  from 
another  circumstance  than  their  wariness,  for,  being  very 


WARINESS  OF  THE  BLACK  DUCK. 


273 


large  (more  so  than  mallard)  and  very  powerfully  built, 
they  can  carry  away  an  enormous  deal  of  shot. 

I  can  well  remember  a  circumstance  illustrative  of  this. 
There  was  a  marsh  close  to  my  head-quarters  last  year. 
To  while  away  the  afternoon,  I  took  my  gun,  and,  with  my 
landlord,  started  to  explore  some  open  water  reported  about 
a  mile  from  home;  for  the  lat(^  frosts  had  been  severe,  and  all 
places  that  did  not  possess  a  rapid  current  were  ice-locked. 

The  early  portion  of  our  tramp  had  been  extremely  un- 
profitable, but  as  we  were  crossing  a  narrow  creek  on  the 
most  unstable  of  bridges,  temporarily  constructed  of  fence- 
rails  purloined  from  the  arable  land  of  a  neighboring  farm- 
er, a  brace  of  black  duck  flushed  within  twenty  yards  of  us. 
My  companion,  as  he  was  holding  on  by  the  skin  of  liis 
teeth  to  escape  a  ducking,  could  not  shoot.  I,  who  was 
situated  in  a  less  precarious  position,  could ;  so,  making  a 
violent  effort  to  pull  myself  together,  I  put  in  both  barrels ; 
the  first  shot  told  its  execution  by  cutting  out  a  handful  of 
feathers,  the  second  by  dropping  the  object  at  which  I  aim- 
ed it  stone-dead.  However,  the  wounded  bird  went  off 
with  such  velocity  and  power,  that  but  little  hope  was  en- 
tertained of  recovering  it ;  and  as  its  retreating  form  grad- 
ually diminished  in  the  distance,  remarks  to  that  effect 
passed  between  us,  although  both  continued  to  gaze  after 
it  as  long  as  its  retreating  form  was  in  view.  My  friend's 
sight  being  better  than  mine,  some  seconds  after  I  had 
turned  my  attention  to  other  matters,  informed  me  that 
my  bird  was  down,  and  he  thought  he  could  find  it.  After 
a  long  and  troublesome  detour  we  reached  the  place,  and 
the  retriever  recovered  it  in  a  few  minutes.  On  examina- 
tion, there  was  not  a  shot  in  the  head,  but  the  body  was 
riddled  to  such  an  extent  as  to  induce  one  to  surmise  how 
it  was  possible  for  the  machinery  of  the  body  to  work  un- 
der such  circumstances. 

12* 


li;i 


274 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


To  every  rule  there  are  exceptions,  so  I  will  give  one — a 
very  rare  one,  I  believe  —  in  reference  to  black  duck.  It 
was  the  last  day  of  the  Indian  summer,  and  consequently 
th.at  preceding  the  comm^nceraent  of  winter.  The  atmos- 
phere was  so  wonderfully  still,  that  not  a  cat's-paw  marked 
the  surface  of  Lake  Couchachin,  in  Upper  Canada.  In  the 
morning  I  had  crossed  to  the  village  of  Orillia  in  a  light 
skiff,  with  the  intention  of  returning  as  soon  as  possible 
with  some  provisions  required  by  the  laborers  employed 
clearing  land.  Circumstances  delayed  me  till  almost  mid- 
day before  I  took  up  my  sculls  to  commence  my  return 
journey,  and  as  I  had  some  distance  to  go,  and  my  craft 
was  light,  small,  and  crank,  I  took  a  good  survey  of  the 
horizon  to  see  that  no  squalls  were  brewing.  No,  not  a 
cloud  hung  on  the  horizon,  not  a  breath  of  wind  disturbed 
the  wonderful  repose  of  the  scene,  and  the  two  islands  which 
formed  either  side  of  a  strait  through  which  I  had  to  steer 
stood  up  exaggerated  to  double  their  size  from  the  refrac- 
tion of  the  atmosphere.  A  strong  pull  and  a  long  pull  dis- 
posed rapidly  of  space,  and  about  half  my  journey  was  ac- 
complished, when  to  my  surprise  I  saw  about  a  dozen  black 
duck  not  twenty  yards  from  my  port-oar.  I  did  not  have 
a  gun  with  me,  so  lost  a  chance  which  I  should  have  much 
liked  to  avail  myself  of.  From  curiosity  to  learn  how  near 
I  could  possibly  get  to  these  generally  very  timid  birds,  I 
altered  my  course,  and  actually  for  ten  minutes,  if  not  more, 
pulled  after  them,  and  although  I  frequently  came  within  a 
few  yards,  could  not  force  them  to  take  the  wing.  To  ex- 
plain this  unusual  circumstance,  I  have  but  one  elucidation 
to  offer,  viz.,  that  they  had  just  arrived  from  a  long  migra- 
tory journey  from  the  North,  and  the  fatigue  they  had  suf- 
fered temporarily  incapacitated  them  from  flight. 


f 


THE  CANVAS-BACK  BUCK. 


CANVAS-BACK  DUCK. 


276 


\' 


The  canvas -back  duck,  considered  by  many  to  be  the 
greatest  deHcacy  of  all  American  game,  is  a  magnificent 
bird  about  the  size  of  the  mallard,  and  not  unlike,  in  plum- 
age, the  English  widgeon.  However,  there  is  a  marked  char- 
acteristic by  which  they  never  can  be  mistaken,  namely,  a 
dip  in  the  centre  of  the  bill,  while  the  upper  portion  of  it 
runs  very  far  over  the  forehead. 

Rearing  their  young  during  summer  upon  the  edge  of 
the  Arctic  Circle,  no  sooner  do  indications  of  approaching 
winter  occur,  than  on  rapid  and  powerful  wing  they  sweep 
down  the  line  of  coast,  seldom  ceasing  their  flight  till  the 
estuary  of  the  Delaware  or  Chesapeake  Bay  are  reached, 
many  continuing  their  course  southward  even  to  the  marshes 
of  Louisiana,  and  the  swamps  on  the  sea-boundary  of  Texas. 

On  the  Pacific  coast  they  also  swarm  within  the  same  de- 
grees of  latitude  as  on  the  Atlantic.  Thus  it  may  be  seen, 
from  their  not  being  found  in  the  interior  of  the  continent, 
that  they  are  essentially  a  sea-duck.  A  curious  circum- 
stance connected  with  them  is,  that  until  they  have  fed  on 
the  vallisneria,  familiarly  known  as  water -celery,  the  flesh 
of  the  canvas-back  is  insipid  and  fishy;  and  as  this  plant 
grows  in  the  greatest  abundance  on  the  Chesapeake,  espe- 
cially on  a  portion  called  the  Susquehanna  Flats,  the  duck 
that  are  killed  there  are  of  far  more  value  than  when  shot 
elsewhere. 

As  these  birds  are  exceedingly  strong,  tremendous  divers, 
and  covered  with  a  very  close  coating  of  feathers,  they  re- 
quire a  large-bore  gun.  My  selection  should  be,  after  the 
experiences  of  last  season,  a  single-barrel  No.  6,  with  No. 
3  shot  for  flight  shooting;  ^i  No.  10  or  8  double-barrel, 
with  No.  6  shot  for  point  shooting. 

Immediately  after  their  arrival  from  the  North,  they  are 


^ 


^ 


:|i 


If 

i  '1 

'      * 


270 


riiAIHlE  AND  FOREST. 


it 
ii 


very  easily  decoyed,  becoming  more  wary,  however,  when 
much  shot  at ;  but  if  severe  weather,  with  ice  and  snow, 
set  in,  they  soon  forget  the  caution  gained  by  previous  ex- 
perience. 

The  number  of  these  ducks  that  are  annually  killed  is 
surprising,  the  greatest  slaughter  among  them  being  made 
from  sink-boats,  a  species  of  box,  which  is  sunk  in  the  wa- 
ter till  within  a  few  inches  of  its  level.  To  prevent  the 
splash  coming  on  board  it  has  immense  wings  on  either 
side,  which  lay  on  the  surface  of  the  water,  and  which  are 
studded  over  with  innumerable  decoys.  Of  course  it  must 
be  understood  that  this  infernal  machine  is  anchored,  the 
gunner  lying  on  his  back  and  shooting  upward  as  the  game 
hovers  over  his  head.  Such  experts  have  many  of  these, 
Chesapeake  wild-fowl  shooters  become,  that  they  seldom 
put  their  gun  to  the  shoulder. 

Over  decoys,  which  are  placed  off  points  in  the  line  of 
their  flight,  large  numbers  can  be  killed.  Many  repudiate 
this  shooting,  even  condemn  it ;  in  this  I  can  not  agree,  for 
quick  shooting  and  great  skill  in  management  are  required. 

Again :  they  are  killed  flying  over  dips  in  the  land,  when 
moving  from  one  feeding  -  ground  to  another;  the  large 
gun's  utility  then  shows  itself  (for  detailed  account,  see 
"Afloat  and  Ashore,"  published  last  year). 

The  hospitality  of  Marylanders  is  proverbial ;  the  shoot- 
ing in  their  State  is  exoellent ;  so  a  sojourn  there  is  certain 
to  be  conducive  of  much  pleasure  to  the  sportsman. 


PIN-TAILED    DUCK. 

Sprig-tailed,  pheasant,  long-tailed,  and  pm-tailed  duck  are 
the  names  by  which  these  handsome  birds  are  known  in 
different  portions  of  the  North  American  continent.  Al- 
though not  unfrequently  found  upon  the  coast,  they  are 
much  more  numerous  on  the  swamp  and  sloughs  of  the  in- 


THE  WOOD  DUCK. 


211 


tevi6r.  Strictly  migratory  in  their  habits,  they  are  invaria- 
bly the  earliest  visitors  of  the  duck  family  that  denote  the 
termination  of  v/inter,  and  the  last  to  tell  that  autumn  is 
about  to  give  place  to  the  season  of  snow  and  ice.  They 
breed  away  up  in  the  far  North  among  the  innumerable  lakes 
and  rivulets  of  the  Hudson  Bay  territory,  and  pass  their 
winter  in  the  swamps  and  lagoons  scattered  over  the  sea- 
board of  Texas  and  other  Southern  States. 

They  are  very  swift  and  powerful  upon  the  wing,  and 
require  as  much  hitting,  if  not  more,  than  any  bird  of  ♦.heir 
size;  therefore  No.  3  shot  and  a  ten-bore  gun  should  be 
used.  They  are  also  very  wary,  and  unless  in  a  snow- 
storm, when  they  appear  to  become  bewildered,  great  pa- 
tience and  skill  are  necessary  to  make  a  successful  stalk 
upon  them.  In  seeking  for  them,  the  sportsman  must  be 
guided  entirely  by  not  only  the  season  of  the  year  but  by 
its  severity,  if  on  the  Western  prairies,  where  I  have  seen 
them  in  immense  numbers.  The  day  or  two  preceding  the 
freezing  up  of  the  sloughs  they  are  certain  to  be  found  in 
abundance ;  again,  in  spring,  immediately  after  thaw  has 
commenced. 

From  their  delicacy  of  flavor,  they  are  much  sought  af- 
ter ;  but  their  destruction  is  inconsiderable  from  the  reason 
I  have  above  stated.  However,  drainage  and  agriculture 
are  certain  ultimately  to  drive  them  from  what  are  now 
their  favorite  haunts. 


THE    WOOD-DUCK. 

This  bird,  which  rivals  in  beauty  of  plumage  the  far- 
famed  mandarin  duck  of  China,  is  seldom  or  nev^r  found 
upon  the  sea-board  of  the  United  States,  even  in  such  se- 
vere weather  as  freezes  up  the  rivers,  for  on  such  occasions, 
being  migratory,  it  betakes  itself  southward  to  moi*e  hos- 
pitable latitudes.     However,  during  summer  and  open  win- 


278 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


tors,  it  will  be  found,  not  in  largo  flocks,  but  in  little  fam- 
ily parties  of  from  four  to  eight,  on  all  the  streams  that 
have  wooded  margins  south  of  the  forty-fifth  degree  of  lat- 
itude. Nowhere  have  I  found  them  sufficiently  abundant 
to  make  them  for  the  day  the  sole  object  of  pursuit,  yet 
few  excursions  will  be  made  in  the  vicinity  of  then*  retreats 
that  several  shots  will  not  be  obtained  at  them.  Although 
not  essentially  a  wild  bird,  still  they  have  the  instinct,  un- 
less stalked  upon  unperceived,  to  flush  just  beyond  gun 
range,  and  appear  invariably  to  endeavor  to  keep  either 
some  giant  tree  or  immense  limb  between  the  intruder 
and  themselves.  As  their  favorite  perching  -  places  are 
upon  limbs  of  trees,  it  is  useless  to  search  for  them  on  the 
stream  after  being  alarmed,  for  they  invariably  make  into 
the  timber,  and  alight  near  the  summit  of  such  trees  as 
possess  the  densest  foliage.  Their  nest  is  always  built  in 
a  tree,  generally  such  a  one  as  is  overgrown  with  ivy  and 
leans  over  a  pond  or  water-course,  the  young  being  carried 
in  the  bill  of  the  parent  bird  from  its  nursery  to  the  water 
when  it  has  arrived  at  sufficient  maturity  to  endure  such 
treatment.  Their  flight  is  very  swift  and  powerful,  so,  al- 
though the  bird  is  small — little  larger  than  a  teal — it  re- 
quires hard  hitting  to  bring  down ;  thus  No.  6  shot  will  be 
found  most  useful  for  their  pursuit. 

SMALLER  VARIETIES. 

Independent  of  Chesapeake  Bay  being  visited  by  such 
immense  swarms  of  canvas-back  ducks,  there  are  thousands 
of  red-heads  and  black-heads,  all  excellent  birds  for  the  ta- 
ble, and  larger  than  English  widgeon,  besides  quantities  of 
bald-pates,  teal,  and  many  smaller  species  of  wild  fowl,  de- 
nominated by  the  inhabitants  of  the  nc'ghborhood  respect- 
ively dipper  ducks,  Southerlies,  and  whistlers — all  of  which 
are  remarkable  for  their  beautiful  plumage,  and  their  ac- 
tivity whether  swimming  or  on  the  wing. 


BBS 


DFPPERS  AND  DECOY-DUCKS. 


279 


It  is  very  seldom  in  winter,  during  any  weather,  that 
sport  is  not  to  a  certain  extent  marred  by  tliese  little  beau- 
ties, more  especially  by  the  dippers,  for  they  are  such  little 
rogues,  thieves,  and  impudent  withal,  that  whenever  they 
see  decoy-ducks  set  out  they  are  bound  to  visit  them.  The 
reason  they  do  so  is  this :  they  imagine  that  the  imitation 
birds  are  a  veritable  flock  of  canvas-backs  feeding,  and  they 
themselves  being  indifferent  divers,  wait  upon  the  surface 
for  the  larger  species  to  bring  up  the  much-prized  water- 
celery,  when,  before  the  lately  submerged  bird  has  got  the 
water  out  of  his  eyes  or  recovered  his  breath,  the  little 


3 


BALD   PATES. 


pilferer  has  purloined  the  fruits  of  his  labor.  This  is  no 
idle  fancy;  Audubon  vouches  for  its  truth,  and  I  have 
many  times  heard  it  confirmed  by  persons  who  spend  their 
lives  upon  the  Chesapeake  supplying  Baltimore  with  wild 
fowl.  A  cock-dipper,  for  such  is  the  name  the  male  bird 
receives,  in  the  parlance  of  that  locality,  is  truly  a  beautiful 
bird,  almost  rivaling  the  wood-duck  in  the  brilliancy  of  his 
plumage-  When  he  raises  his  handsome  crest  he  is  par- 
ticularly attractive. 

For  the  table  dippers  are  superior  to  teal,  and  that  is  pay- 
ing them  no  mean  compliment ;  for  who  that  is  an  epicure 
can  be  ignorant  of  the  delicacy  of  flavor  of  the  latter? 


280 


rUAIltlE  AND  FOliEST. 


i 


The  Southerly,  as  well  as  the  dipper,  are  essentially  sea- 
ducks,  neither  being  found  inland.  The  former  doubtless 
derives  its  name  from  the  notes  it  utters  when  calling  to 
each  other  or  when  alarmed.  In  stormy  weather  they  are 
particularly  garrulous,  and  the  notes  "  Sou-southerly  "  may 
be  heard  in  every  direction,  as  distinctly  uttered  as  if  by 
a  human  being,  and  the  intonation  is  particularly  musical. 
They  also  possess  great  beauty  of  plumage,  the  preponder- 
ating coloring  being  rich  brown  interspersed  with  white. 


TEAL.. 


They  are  a  little  larger  than  our  teal ;  however,  they  are 
tough  and  fishy,  consequently  little  used  for  the  table  when 
other  varieties  can  be  obtained,  so  that,  except  in  cases  of 
necessity,  the  sportsn^Mi  ought  always  to  spare  them. 

The  Whistler  is  about  the  size  of  the  former,  but  fuller 
in  form.  It  is  a  dark,  sombre  bird,  with  a  beautiful  white 
bar  on  each  wing.  They  derive  their  name  from  a  sharp 
whistling  sound  emanating  from  each  wing  when  in  flight. 
Unlike  the  former  species,  they  frequent  the  rapids  and 
air-holes  of  rivers  in  severe  frost;  consequently  are  not, 
strictly  speaking,  sea-ducks.     When  in  such  haunts,  they 


A  FA  VOniTK  SPOT. 


281 


are  extremely  wary  and  difficult  of  Ap])roacli,  and,  being 
very  powerful  of  wing  and  extremely  tenacious  of  life,  will 
fly  a  long  distance  after  they  have  been  severely  woimded. 
Although  my  experience  would  cause  mo  to  say  otherwise, 
they  are  not  jiiuch  appreciated  as  an  article  of  food. 

For  general  duck-shooting,  that  is,  for  killing  a  great  va- 
riety of  this  appreciated  race,  I  know  few  places  I  can  more 
strongly  recommend  than  a  beautifully  -  timbered,  placid 
stream,  called  the  Iroquois,  flowing  through  the  northern 
part  of  the  State  of  Illinois.  Autumn  was  the  season  when 
first  I  visited  it,  and  so  charmed  was  I  with  its  suitableness 
for  this  description  of  sport,  that  I  tarried  by  its  banks  not 
only  the  two  weeks  originally  intended,  but  many  weeks 
more. 

For  a  water-course  situated  in  a  settled  State  it  was  won- 
derfully fre6  from  intrusion ;  so  much  so,  that  my  friend 
and  self  have  frequently  gone  from  morning  till  night  with- 
out seeing:  the  face  of  a  stranccer. 

The  appearance  of  this  river  is  easily  described,  for  there 
was  no  grand  cascade  or  boiling  rapid  to  make  it  remark- 
able ;  no,  it  was  only  a  commonplace  prairie  stream,  about 
sixty  yards  wide,  margined  at  the  edge  with  lilies  and 
sedge,  which  was  again  bounded  on  the  drier  ground  by 
dwarf  hazel  and  alder-bushes  in  sparsely-scattered  clumps, 
the  whole  framed  in  with  thin,  widely-scattered,  diminutive 
trees.  Thus  the  reader  will  perceive  that  there  was  enough 
cover  to  get  within  range  of  your  game,  not  sufficient  to  in- 
terfere with  your  aim,  and  the  walking  was  excellent  on 
both  sides,  free  from  quagmire  or  cedar  swamp. 

I  can  recall  with  pleasure  the  rich  golden  mellow  of  the 
Ai'ierican  autumn  glinting  over  this  retired  scene,  and  al- 
most every  variety  of  duck  passing  with  strong  and  rapid 
pinion,  unconscious  of  danger,  along  the  centre  of  the 
stream,  and  within  such  easy  gunshot  that  we  invariably 


282 


rRAIIilK  AND  FOREST. 


picked  up  each  other's  birds ;  for  wc  took  reverse  sides  of 
the  river,  such  a  proceeding  saving  our  faithful,  patient, 
ever-willing  retrievers.  Nor  would  our  forenoon  bag  bo 
better  than  the  afternoon  one,  although  toward  night  we  re- 
turned over  the  same  route  we  had  pursued  in  the  morning; 
for  if  we  killed  a  couple  of  dozen  going  with  the  stream, 
the  number  bagged  would  be  about  the  same  returning 
in  the  reverse  direction.  And  day  after  day  no  apparent 
diminution  in  our  sport  occurred,  for  the  vast  sloughs  in 
the  surrounding  prairie  immediately  supplied  the  deficit 
occasioned  by  our  labors.  There  were  other  pleasures  at- 
tached to  this  delightful  locality  that  never  could  fail  to 
delight  the  naturalist  or  sportsman;  for  the  fleet,  timid, 
watchful-eared  deer,  the  fussy,  pompous  wild  turkey,  and 
graceful,  swift- winged  ruffed  grouse  were  also  partial  to 
this  retreat,  and  few  were  the  days  that  wo  did  not  mQ 
several  of  each,  rushing  off  on  rapid  feet  or  wing  to  hide 
themselves  from  the  dangerous  intruders  on  their  demesne. 
This  spot  can  not  be  much  changed,  for  it  is  only  seven 
years  or  so  since  I  was  there,  and  it  is  some  distance  from 
railroads;  but  even  supposing  the  game  be  reduced  one- 
half,  then  there  would  be»ample  left  to  induce  me  to  go 
many  a  long  and  weary  mile  to  revisit  it.  My  old  shoot- 
ing companion  and  very  dear  friend,  Nathaniel  West,  a 
year  or  two  since  was  still  residing  at  Kent,  Indiana,  not 
many  miles  from  the  Iroquois.  If  the  reader  bo  of  the  right 
sort,  id  est,  willing  to  do  a  fair  day's  work  for  a  fair  day's 
sport,  and  acknowledge  that  there  are  as  good  countries  in 
the  world  as  our  own,  let  him  call  upon  him,  and  he  will 
return  satisfied  that  America  can  and  does  produce  as  good 
shots  and  sportsmen  as  England. 


CHAPTER  XX. 


SALMONID^. 
{Saljno  solar.) 

Altfiough  at  one  time  salmon  were  found  abundant  in 
all  the  tributaries  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  even  in  Lake  On- 
tario, now  the  fisherman  on  the  Atlantic  sea-board  of  Ameri- 
ca, if  he  desires  commensurate  reward  for  the  trouble  and 
expense  he  has  been  put  to,  that  he  may  enjoy  his  favorite 
pleasure,  must  visit  some  of  the  streams  along  the  coast  of 
Labrador,  unless  be  feel  disposed  to  rent  a  fishery,  which 
will  be  found  almost  as  expensive  in  Canada  as  in  Norway, 
Scotland,  or  Ireland.  '  However,  if  you  are  able  and  willing 
to  pay  for  the  enjoyment  of  your  hobby,  this  advantage 
is  gained,  that  when  the  season  terminates  you  are  nearer 
home  and  civilization;  advantages  that  can  not  often  be 
over -appreciated  if  accidents  or  sickness  have  overtaken 
yourself  or  companions. 

On  the  Pacific  coast  salmon  are  also  most  abundant  in 
all  the  streams  that  flow  into  it  above  the  forty  -  second 
degree  of  north  latitude.  In  fact,  a  few  years  ago,  the 
Columbia  and  Fraser  rivers  abounded  with  this  fish  in  such 
numbers  as  often  to  pollute  the  air  with  the  decomposition 
of  the  countless  thousands  of  dead  that  were  washed  up  on 
their  margins. 

At  the  present  date  those  of  Fraser  River  are  justly 
famous.  There  are  five  species,  and  they  make  their  way 
up  the  river  for  one  thousand  miles.  The  silver  salmon  be- 
gins to  arrive  in  March  or  early  in  April,  and  lasts  till  the 
end  of  Jure     Their  weight  is  from  four  to  twenty -five 


Ill 


■  I 


284 


PPAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


pounds,  but  they  have  been  caught  weighing  over  seventy. 
The  second  kind  are  caught  from  June  to  August,  and 
are  Qonsidered  the  finest.  Their  average  size  is  only  five  or 
six  pounds.  The  third,  coining  in  August,  average  seven 
pounds,  and  are  an  excellent  fish.  The  noan,  or  humpback 
salmon,  -^omes  every  second  year,  lasting  from  August  till 
winter,  weighing  from  six  to  fourteen  pounds.  The  hook- 
hill  arrives  in  September,  and  remains  till  winter,  weighing 
from  twelve  to  fifteen  and  even  forty-five  pounds,  Salmon 
is  ftold  at  Victoria  at  five  cents  a  pound,  and  there  appears 
to  be  no  limit  to  the  supply. 

However,  one  thing  I  must  not  forget  to  mention  is  that, 
although  the  trout  of  British  Columbia,  Oregon,  and  Cali- 
fornia rise  freely  to  the  fly,  the  salmon  of  the  Pacific  do 
not  —  a  circumstance  to  be  regretted  by  all  lovers  of  the 
lithesome  rod. 

Halifax — reader,  have  you  ever  been  in  Halifax  ?  Many 
places  are  ^ess  to  be  admired  and  less  agreeable  to  live  in, 
although  I  have  heard  sailors  quote  the  saying,  in  Old  En- 
gland, "  Deliver  us  from  Hell,  Hull,  and  Halifax."  Why 
this  condemnation  I  know  not.  For  my  part,  I  have  been 
in  many  towns  less  pleasant;  the  inhabitants  are  hospitable 
and  genial,  the  society  is  good,  and  the  ladies  have  no  small 
pretensions  to  being  considered  beautiful.  Having  spent  a 
couple  of  weeks  lounging  about  Halifax  with  nothing  to  do, 
at  length  I  decided  to  go  in  search  of  adventure,  and,  if  pos- 
sible, get  a  few  days'  salmon-fishing. 

Having  come  to  this  conclusion,  on  examining  the  local 
papers,  I  found  that  the  good  schooner  Alert,  registered 
Al,  would  sail  on  the  morrow  for  the  Straits  of  Belle  Isle, 
to  collect  salt  fish  from  the  coast,  weather  permitting;  so 
without  delay  I  hastened  to  the  designated  wharf  to  exam- 
ine the  craft,  and  strike  a  bargain  with  the  skipper.  Ti.e 
captain  was  below,  in  the  cabin,  one  of  the  deck-hands  in- 


A  RAPID  DESCENT. 


285 


formod  me,  as  I  passed  the  gangway,  indicating  the  position 
of  the  companion-ladder  with  a  jerk  of  his  finger  over  the 
left  shoulder.  On  getting  at  the  bottom  of  that  most  in- 
convenient piece  of  mechanism  in  every  small  craft  a  little 
faster  than  expected,  having  slipped  my  foot  on  the  second 
or  third  step,  and  slid  the  rest  of  the  way  to  the  bottom, 
only  saving  my  neck  by  the  hold  I  had  of  the  banisters,  and 
making  a  tremendous  racket  by  my  rapid  descent,!  was  sa- 
luted with,  "Jock,  you  careless  lubber,  can't  you  mind  your 
feet?  This  is  the  second  time  you  have  made  that  infer- 
nal clatter  this  day !"  And  what  more  would  have  come  I 
know  not,  for  I  interrupted  the  speaker  in  his  invective 
by  knocking  with  considerable  energy  at  the  door  which 
appeared  to  stand  between  us.  On  being  desired  to  enter, 
I  turned  the  handle,  when  Captain  MacGregor  was  present- 
ed to  my  view,  lathered  all  over,  and  in  the  act  of  giving 
the  finishing  touch  on  the  strap  to  his  razor.  He  was  a 
big  man,  powerful,  raw-boned,  but  kindly-looking,  and  with 
great  courtesy  he  apologized  for  his  undress  and  the  rough 
salute  he  had  given  me.  The  companion-ladder  he  con- 
demned in  no  measured  terms,  but  at  the  same  time  he 
could  make  no  allowance  for  a  young  callant  like  Jock  be- 
ing not  spry  enough  with  his  feet  to  keep  a  grip  of  aucht 
that  he  could  get  his  heel  or  toe  on.  I  saw  that  the  skip- 
per was  a  bit  of  a  character,  and,  with  all  his  external  rough- 
ness, had  a  good,  warm,  kind  heart  underneath.  I  deter- 
mined, therefore,  to  trust  myself  to  his  seamanship,  if  suit- 
able terms  could  be  made.  At  once  the  subject  of  my  visit 
was  broached,  and  his  charge  for  the  trip  ascertained.  After 
thinking  a  minute  or  two,  he  asked  my  name,  and  whether 
or  no  I  was  from  the  States.  On  being  answered  in  the 
negative,  and  my  cognomen  given,  he  took  a  good  look  at 
me,  and  laying  down  his  razor,  the  lather  being  still  on  hia 
face,  he  delivered  himself  in  these  words :  "  The  passage 


^w 


286 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


I 


-I   tBt 

Hi 


-;  m\ 


I'll  just  charge  you  five  pund  sterling  for.  rm  thinking 
you'll  na  deem  that  ower  muckle ;  but  if  I  didna  like  your 
cut,  twenty  pund,  let  alone  five,  wouldna  hae  let  you  aboard. 
x\nd  I  suppose  it's  a'  right ;  and  gin  you'll  jist  wait  till  I 
get  scraped,  I  can  gie  you  a  glass  of  real  Islay  that  nare 
was  gauged  by  exciseman."  Soon  the  scraping  operation 
was  performed  to  his  satisfaction,  and  a  black  bottle  was 
produced,  the  contents  of  which  fully  reached  the  proper 
standard  of  excellence,  if  strength  is  considered  to  consti- 
tute it.  In  the  mean  time  the  captain  had  got  ready  to 
go  on  shore,  and  Jock  was  summoned  for  final  instructions ; 
but  the  deck-hands  stated  that  he  was  not  on  board,  but  fish- 
ing off  the  end  of  the  dock.  A  stentorian  shout  summoned 
the  truant.  With  line  in  hand,  and  a  string  of  flounders, 
he  made  his  appearance.  "How  dar'st  you  gang  ashore 
wi'out  my  permission  ?  You're  mair  bother  than  the  whole 
ship's  company,  you  de'il's  buckey,  you  I  Yinst  we  get  hame, 
your  mither  maun  keep  you  to  hersel' ;  for  though  she  be 
my  ain  sister,  I'll  no  be  langer  fashed  wi'  the  likes  o'  you. 
Now  listen  to  me:  hae  dinner  sharp  at  two;  see  that  the 
cook  dinna  boil  the  haggis  ower  muckle;  and  set  twa 
plates.  You'll  tak  your  dinner  wi'  me,  sir;  I  hae  got  a 
real  Scotch  haggis,  and  the  likes  you  maybe  nare  tasted 
afore.  I'"  tak  no  refusal,  mon,  unless  you're  promised  to 
a  friend."  With  pleasure  I  accepted  the  invitation,  and, 
much  pleased  with  both  captain  and  schooner,  returned  to 
the  hotel  to  pack  my  traps  and  make  final  arrangements 
before  sailing.  Sharp  at  two  I  was  again  on  board,  and  the 
agreeable  odor  which  pervaded  the  craft,  if  it  rose  from  the 
haggis,  was  a  guarantee  of  future  excellence.  The  captain 
welcomed  me  with  great  warmth,  and  expressed  hopes  that 
we  should  have  a  rapid  and  pleasant  passage,  but  at  the 
same  time  informed  me  that  there  was  no  more  kittlish 
navigation  in  the  world,  excepting  it  be  on  his  own  native 


A  PROSPEROUS  VOYAOE. 


28V 


. 


coast.  Our  meal  passed  pleasantly ;  and  while  performing 
the  office  of  host,  his  brusqueness  disappeared,  and  with  it 
a  good  deal  of  the  broad  dialect.  The  haggis  was  excellent, 
the  bacon  and  chickens  were  as  good,  and  the  West  Indian 
preserves  which  formed  the  dessert  were  of  the  best  qual- 
ity. As  I  stretched  my  limbs  under  liis  table  in  the  snug 
little  cabin,  after  the  cloth  had  been  removed,  and  a  kettle 
of  boiling  water  flanked  with  lemons  had  made  its  appear- 
ance, I  felt  satisfied  that  there  were  worse  lots  in  the  world 
than  commanding  a  clipper  schooner  in  the  West  Indian 
trade. 

As  the  toddy  circulated  our  companionship  increased; 
and  to  a  question  I  asked  in  reference  to  his  success  in  the 
last  voyage,  ho  made  the  following  statement :  "  Well,  sir, 
you  see  a  man  that  commenced  the  world  without  a  baw- 
bee. My  faither  and  mither  were  baith  poor;  and  when  I 
thought  I  had  enough  schooling,  our  family  being  big,  I 
bound  myself  as  an  apprentice  on  board  a  bark,  called  the 
KilmorSy  that  traded  out  of  Clyde  to  the  West  Indies. 
She  was  one  of  the  old-fashioned  sort,  and  would  make  as 
much  on  a  wind  as  a  hay-stack.  Still,  she  was  a  snug  little 
boat,  strong  as  oak,  and  dry  as  could  be.  On  the  last  run  I 
made  in  her  the  captain  took  sick  and  died,  most  before  we 
lost  sight  of  Cantire.  This  made  me  second  mate,  and  the 
former  first  mate  took  charge.  Our  voyage  was  prosper- 
ous, and  we  dropped  anchor  o£E  Demerara  in  near  the  short- 
est time  that  then  ever  had  been  made.  One  thing  only 
disturbed  the  harmony  of  the  passage,  viz.,  the  acting  first 
officer  was  so  puffed  up  with  his  new  post  that  he  neither 
performed  his  duty  nor  would  let  others  do  theirs.  The 
temporary  captain  was,  after  a  deal  of  forbearance,  compel- 
led to  place  him  under  arrest,  and  prefer  charges  against 
him  on  dropping  anchor.  The  result  was,  he  was  dis- 
charged; and  lis  the  bark  was  to  go  to  sea  immediately, 


288 


PRAIRIE  AND  PoREST. 


and  a  first  mate  could  not  be  procured,  I  was  advanced  to 
act  in  that  capacity. 

"  When  we  got  back  to  Clyde,  the  very  day  we  sighted 
old  Ailsa  Craig,  my  time  was  out,  and  as  we  ran  up  the 
river  with  a  fair  wind  astern  and  all  our  stunsails  set,  I 
would  have  given  most  aucht  if  my  mither  and  faither,  who 
lived  at  Saltcoats,  close  by,  could  have  seen  their  boy  in  his 
new  and  advanced  berth.  The  owners  of  the  old  Kilmors 
launched  a  new  ship  next  year,  and,  much  to  ray  unexpect- 
ed satisfaction,  I  got  the  berth  of  first  ofiicer  in  her.  A 
year  or  two  after,  when  at  Jamaica,  I  was  offered  the  com- 
mand of  a  brig  in  the  Honduras  trade,  and  here  I  saved 
some  money ;  in  three  years  I  purchased  a  share,  and  in 
two  years  more  was  half  owner.  The  world  prospered  wi' 
me,  and  every  few  years  or  so  I  see  the  auld  folks  and  gie 
them  a  little  comfort  in  their  auld  age.  When  young, 
many's  the  trout  I  had  tane,  and  when  I  would  make  my 
fleeing  visits  to  the  old  hearth-stone,  I  would  generally  get 
a  day  or  two  to  try  the  salmon  in  Doon,  for  I  was  aye  fond 
o'  fishing,  so  was  my  faither,  and  his  faither  afore  him,  an' 
somehow  I  ne'er  kent  a  fisher  who  was  na  an  honest  man  " 
(as  he  warmed  with  the  subject,  he  resumed  his  native  dia- 
lect) ;  "  and  when  I  looked  at  you,  and  heard  you  say  you 
were  going  for  a  bit  o'  fishing,  my  heart  warmed  to  you, 
and  though  I  ha'  been  so  fashed  wi'  passengers,  and  had  maist 
made  up  my  mind  nare  to  take  anither,  I  jist  thought  I'd 
drap  my  rule  on  your  account." 

The  afternoon  passed  pleasantly ;  the  captain  had  boen 
everywhere,  and  discoursed  with  groat  good  sense  and 
knowledsre  upon  different  countries,  and  he  was  destitute 
of  the  disagreeable  egotism  that  so  frequently  stamps  our 
uneducated  countrymen.  Moreover,  he  was  a  loyal  and 
true  subject  of  his  Queen  and  country,  which  made  me  the 
more  appreciate  him.     Next  morning  we  got  to  sea  with  a 


■ 


A  PLEASANT  AFTERNOON. 


289 


fair  wind,  and  every  prospect  of  a  short  run.  The  schoon- 
er was  a  remarkably  fast  sailer,  built  after  the  model  of 
one  of  our  modern  yachts,  low  and  close  to  the  water,  with 
plenty  of  beam,  and  long,  tapering,  rakish  spars. 

Her  decks  were  without  hamper,  and  showed  from  their 
whiteness  that  holystone  was  not  spared ;  while  the  crew, 
which  consisted  of  six  men,  the  redoubtable  Jock,  and  a 
sturdy  negro,  were  as  efficient,  clean,  and  smart  as  could 
well  have  been  found.  The  captain  took  a  deal  of  pleasure 
in  his  craft,  and  handled  her  as  none  but  a  man  of  experience 
could ;  besides,  he  was  half  owner,  and  this  made  him  have 
an  interest  in  all  the  details  that  one  employed  by  the  month 
or  cruise  would  be  unlikely  to  possess.  In  talking  to  the 
skipper,  reading,  and  looking  over  my  tackle,  the  day  pass- 
ed rapidly,  and  as  night  closed  in  and  the  breeze  lessened, 
I  concluded  that  I  had  seldom  passed  a  pleasauter  day. 

After  supper,  MacGregor  produced  his  rods  and  fly-book 
for  my  inspection,  and  a  long  and  careful  examination  we 
had  of  these  common  subjects  of  interest.  His  rods  were 
remarkably  heavy,  longer  than  I  should  deem  necessary, 
while  his  flies  were  coarsely  tied,  although  the  coloring  was 
all  that  could  be  desired.  If  one  had  been  dismembered,  I 
have  little  doubt,  from  the  dubbing  and  feathers  of  which 
it  was  composed,  three,  or  at  least  two,  of  my  treasures 
could  have  been  fabricated*  Of  course,  I  soon  pvod'accd 
my  tools,  to  all  of  which  he  gave  an  abundance  of  praise, 
but  doubted  if  they  could  do  more  execution  than  his  own. 
My  reel  alone  he  acknowledged  to  be  better  than  his,  and 
concluded,  if  ever  he  went  to  New  York,*  he'd  be  guilty  of 
purchasing  its  counterpart.  Bed-time  arrived,  and,  having 
discussed  a  night-cap,  I  turned  into  my  bunk,  while  the  cap- 
tain went  on  deck  to  keep  the  middle  watch  with  the  sec- 


*  Made  bv  Andrew  Clerk  and  Co.,  of  Maiden  Lane. 

13 


290 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


ond  mate,  a  practice  he  always  followed  when  on  the  coast. 
The  motion  was  just  sufficient  to  lull  me  to  sleep,  and  soon 
ray  eyes  were  closed  to  tlie  outer  world.  Three  hours  at 
the  utmost  must  I  liave  been  asleep,  when  the  violence  of 
the  motion,  the  stamping  on  deck,  thoroughly  aroused  me 
from  my  slumbers.  From  the  even  keel  that  we  had  been 
on  a  few  hours  before,  we  now  careened  so  far  over  that  I 
found  it  next  to  impossible  to  brace  myself  in  my  berth ; 
the  wind  fairly  screeched  through  the  rigging,  and  the 
racket  caused  by  chairs  and  other  movables  adi.ft,  ban- 
ished slumber  for  the  time  being.  At  length  I  could  re- 
main no  longer  below,  from  a  desire  to  see  and  ascertain 
the  nature  of  affairs.  After  many  ineffectual  attempts,  and 
not  without  assuming  all  kind  of  strange  attitudes,  I  got 
into  my  nether  garments  and  boots,  and  succeeded  in  gain- 
ing the  upper  regions.  The  scene  was  truly  terrific;  the 
sea  was  wild  with  agitation ;  billow  after  billow  rolled  past, 
crested  with  foam,  while  the  blast  fairly  howled  its  wrath. 
The  captain  stood  aft,  holding  on  to  the  weather  mainstay, 
occasionally  giving  an  order  to  the  men  at  the  wheel. 
From  the  spread  of  canvas  we  had  formerly  carried,  we 
were  now  reduced  to  a  close-reefed  mainsail,  foresail,  and 
storm- jib.  Sometimes  the  vessel  would  appear  to  jump,  as 
she  would  leave  the  top  of  one  roller  to  reach  the  next. 
Nobly  the  gallant  craft  bore  the  ordeal,  and  splendidly  did 
she  behave ;  still,  the  cool  self  -  possession  of  the  captain 
failed  to  prevent  my  thinking  how  much  better  I  should  be 
satisfied  to  be  again  standing  on  terra  Jirma,  and,  although 
pride  prevented  my  making  the  confession,  I  internally  reg- 
istered a  vow  that,  if  I  ever  again  placed  my  foot  on  land, 
nothing  should  again  tempt  me  to  trust  my  safety  on  board 
a  coaster. 

But  to  my  narrative.    With  each  hour  the  gale  increased, 
and  to  such  violence  that  the  gallant  schooner  was  moment- 


THE  MOTHER  OF  MY  CHILDHOOD. 


201 


arily  in  peril.  Next  morning  dawned  bleak  and  wild ;  the 
waves  tumbled  over  one  another,  the  larger  swallowing  up 
the  lesser  for  want  of  something  else  to  satisfy  their  de- 
vouring inclination.  This  day  and  several  others  were  only  ^ 
a  repetition  of  the  first  night;  no  reckoning  could  be  ob- 
tained ;  still  we  stood  upon  our  course.  With  half  an  eye 
I  could  detect  that  our  skipper  was  uneasy,  and  anxious 
again  for  a  glimpse  of  the  old  familiar  sun. 

One  of  our  sails  had  been  blown  to  ribbons,  and  our  bow- 
sprit became  partially  sprung ;  still,  as  long  as  we  had  plenty 
of  sea-room  all  Avas  comparatively  safe ;  sailors'  ingenuity 
had  obviated  temporarily  the  injury  of  the  latter,  and  the 
sail-room  had  supplied  fresh  canvas.  The  fourtii  evening 
the  gale  exhausted  itself  about  midnight,  and  I,  who  had 
not  closed  an  eye  daring  these  days,  experienced  a  few 
hours  of  the  balmiest  sleep  that  ever  fell  to  the  lot  of  storm- 
tossed  mariner,  notwithstanding  that  there  was  not  a  dry 
stitch,  even  among  the  bedding,  on  board  the  Alert.  How 
often  do  I  think  of  the  affectionate,  kind  mother  of  my 
childhood,  and  her  anxiety  that  her  boy  should  not  sleep  in 
damp  sheets  !  Could  she  see  or  know  the  trials  and  hard- 
ships which  he,  with  others,  have  encountered  in  his  jour- 
ney through  life,  her  maternal  solicitude  would  receive  a 
severe  shock.  Truly  the  journey  of  life  is  a  rough  path, 
made  up  of  storms  and  sunshine,  wintry  snows  and  tropical 
showers ;  one  time  ascending  hills,  the  next  descending ; 
fortune  smiling  to-day,  frowning  to-morrow ;  ignorant  of 
what  the  future  has  in  store  for  us ;  but,  doubtless,  all  is 
for  the  best,  and  those  troubles  and  temptations  which  in  • 
our  spleen  we  grumble  at  are  but  intended  to  fit  us  for  our 
ultimate  resting-place,  where  perpetual  sunshine  and  un- 
clouded happiness  will  reign  forever. 

Next  morning  when  day  awoke  me,  I  was  delighted  to 
find  that  we  were  once  more  on  a  level  keel,  and  when  I 


^1, 


t    t' 


292 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


gained  the  deck,  so  bright  and  joyous  appeared  the  weath- 
er, that  you  could  imagine  that  nature  was  laughing  and 
enjoying  our  previous  discomfort.  Sambo,  the  cook,  soon 
supplied  me  with  a  cup  of  coffee,  which,  with  ray  morning 
pipe,  I  thoroughly  enjoyed,  while  I  watched  the  detached 
banks  of  fog  roll  lazily  over  the  water,  occasionally  shutting 
out  or  opening  vistas  of  the  distance.  The  whole  water 
was  alive  with  fish,  the  surface  in  many  places  being 
broken,  and  resembling  the  rapids  of  a  river,  with  their 
gambols;  but  soon  a  giant  porpoise  would  roll  in  among 
them,  when  all  the  terrified  fry  would  disappear  for  a  few 
minutes,  to  re-present  themselves  when  the  intruder  had 
departed.  Gulls,  in  immense  numbers,  floated  upon  the 
water,  as  if  resting  from  the  fatigue  caused  by  the  war  of 
the  elements,  and  adding  beauty  to  the  picture  by  their 
pure  white,  spotless  plumage.  I  remember  hearing  an  old 
salt,  in  answer  to  the  question  of  why  sea -fowl,  in  bad 
weather,  so  much  more  fearlessly  approach  vessels  than 
when  it  is  calm,  give  the  following  solution :  "  Well,  you 
sfee,  those  good  folks  who  die  don't  go  to'  Davy  Jones,  but 
turn  into  Cape  pigeons,  and  kittiwakes,  and  them  kind  of 
birds,  and  when  they  think  it's  rough  and  kind  of  dan- 
gerous, they  naturally  like  to  hover  about  their  friends  to 
protect  them."  If  angels  visit  earth  in  these  modern  and 
wicked  times,  there  are  many  garbs  they  could  assume  less 
beautiful  and  less  suitable  than  that  of  the  snowy  -  white 
sea-gull. 

At  breakfast  our  captain  expressed  much  satisfaction  at 
the  bad  weather  having  passed,  and  particularly  at  its  be- 
ing  so  unusually  calm ;  for  he  much  feared,  what  with  the 
usual  incorrectness  of  dead  reckoning  and  strong  tides — 
which  exist  to  a  greater  extent  here  than  probably  in  any 
other  portion  of  the  globe — that  he  was  some  way  off  his 
course.     On  taking  soundings,  the  depth  indicated  by  the 


OUR  SCHOONER  HTRIKES  A  ROCK. 


293 


lead-line  and  the  composition  of  the  bottom  so  completely 
differed  from  what  we  expected,  that  there  scarcely  remain- 
ed a  doubt  that  we  were  astray ;  still  we  were  drifting  very 
rapidly  to  the  north-west,  the  fog,  if  any  thing,  growing 
denser.  About  eleven,  our  captain  having  given  the  look- 
out strict  injunctions  to  keep  his  eyes  open  while  he  again 
went  below  to  examine  his  chart,  I  followed  suit.  I  could 
scarcely  have  been  in  the  cabin  over  five  minutes  when  the 
schooner  received  a  severe  shock,  which  caused  me  to  rush 
on  deck.  We  had  struck  a  rock  forward,  a  little  to  star- 
board of  the  stem,  but  the  tide  had  fortunately  swung  us 
round  clear,  and  we  were  drifting  on  as  if  nothing  had 
happened.  On  sounding,  we  found  we  were  making  water 
rapidly,  faster  than  the  pumps  could  throw  it  out.  True, 
we  had  the  boats,  and  our  danger  was  trifling,  but  the 
security  of  the  gallant  craft  was  imminent.  Not  a  word 
of  anger  did  the  captain  permit  to  escape  his  lips,  but  ac- 
cepted all  as  destiny.  Scarcely  twenty  minutes  had  we 
been  in  this  uncertain  state  when  a  gentle  breeze  sprang  up 
and  the  fog  rapidly  lifted,  giving  us  an  observation,  and 
disclosing  a  panorama  never  to  be  forgotten.  Tier  after 
tier  of  sterile  hills  overtopped  each  other  to  the  north, 
grand  in  their  bold  and  fantastic  outline,  while  a  white 
sandy  beach  met  the  blue  water,  occasionally  interrupted 
by  a  reef  of  rocks  jutting  out  into  the  azure  element.  Not 
over  a  mile  separated  us  from  the  shore;  and  projecting 
headlands  shut  us  in  from  west  and  easterly  gales;  'while 
a  reef  of  iK)cks,  the  extremity  of  which  we  had  touched, 
formed  a  natural  breakwater  a  mile  and  a  half  to  the  east- 
ward. If  so  disposed,  with  the  wind  from  its  present  di- 
rection, we  should  have  found  it  a  difficult  matter  to  beat 
out;  and  when  the  skipper  informed  me  that  he  intended 
running  in  and  stranding  the  vessel  at  the  first  high  tide,  I 
not  only  highly  approved,  but  was  much   delighted  with 


294 


PHAIJtlE  AND  FOHEHT. 


the  prospect.  The  welcome  word  to  let  go  the  anchor  soon 
rang  forth,  and  the  emblem  of  faith  took  hold  on  firm  sand 
at  four  fathoms. 

In  discussing  our  early  dinner  the  captain  informed  me 
that  he  intended  going  ashore  to  seek  out  a  suitable  place 
to  strand  his  craft,  and  that  I  might  as  well  accompany 
him  anfll  explore  to  the  westward,  for  a  stream  was  marked 
on  his  chart  which  could  not  be  over  a  few  miles  from  our 
anchorage.  Soon  we  trod  terra  Jlrma;  and  while  MacGre- 
gor  remained,  I  started,  double-barrel  in  hand,  on  a  recon- 
naissance, with  light  steps  and  lighter  heart.  The  soil  was 
thin  and  unproductive,  bearing  nothing  but  stunted  brush, 
excepting  in  the  ravines  and  hollows,  sheltered  from  the 
prevailing  winds ;  here  a  dwarf  deformed  pine  or  stunted 
larch  would  rear  its  diminutive  head,  or  an  antiquated 
birch,  covered  with  its  hoary  bark,  hang  precarious  from  a 
jutting  rock.  Intense  solitude  reigned  around,  and  naught 
broke  the  stillness  of  the  landscape  save  the  persevering 
wicked  hum  of  the  blood-thirsty  mosquito.  With  buoyant 
hopes  I  walked  on,  and  just  as  I  began  to  think  I  had  trav- 
ersed quite  two  miles,  I  suddenly  came  upon  the  margin  of 
a  bright,  pure'  river,  about  seventy  yards  wide,  running  in  a 
continuous  rapid  stream  toward  the  sea.  Mimgo  Park's 
first  view  of  the  Niger,  or  Speke  and  Grant's  first  sight  of 
the  upper  waters  of  the  Nile,  can  scarce  have  afforded  more 
satisfaction  to  those  illustrious  travelers  than  I  experienced 
on  this  occasion.  Several  seals  were  fishing  in  the  current, 
and  their  disregard  of  ray  presence  convinced  me  that  their 
acquaintance  with  the  lords  of  creation  had  been  very  lim- 
ited. Several  families  of  wild  duck  were  conspicuous,  while 
salmon  and  sea-trout  broke  water  wherever  the  stream  was 
undisturbed  by  the  unwelcome  seals.  Reader,  have  you 
ever  been  at  the  mouth  of  a  river,  and  witnessed  how  rap- 
idly the  arrival  of  a  seal  in  its  estuary  is  transmitted  to  the 


FIHHINO  REMINISVENCES. 


295 


inlmbitants  ?  The  moment  before  fiis  unwelcome  presence 
is  known  thousands  of  fish  sport  themselves,  but  on  his 
advent  being  published  not  an  indication  can  be  noted  that 
aught  else  tenants  the  water  save  this  amphibious  animal. 
After  taking  a  due  survey,  I  started  upward,  following  the 
margin  of  the  stream.  In  less  than  a  mile  I  found  its  gen- 
eral characteristics  changed,  and  from  a  steady,  I'apid  cur- 
rent it  became  a  boiling,  seething  cataract.  Again  its  char- 
acter changed,  and  large  sombre-looking  pools  interrupted 
its  precipitous  course.  How  I  longed  for  a  rod  !  It  re- 
quired much  less  experience  than  mine  to  be  aware  that 
this  was  a  magnificent  fishing-ground.  Salmon  rose  on  all 
sides,  pitching  themselves  clear  of  the  water,  and  making  it 
fly  in  spray  like  the  splash  of  a  heavy  stone.  I  had  beheld 
enough  to  satisfy  the  most  fastidious,  and  with  hurried 
steps  I  retraced  my  way,  brimful  with  what  I  liad  seen,  and 
anxious  to  convey  the  important  information  to  my  kind 
and  worthy  acquaintance,  the  captain. 

That  evening  we  discussed  our  plans,  MacGregor  being 
in  excellent  spirits,  having  found  that  the  ship's  leak  could 
easily  be  stopped,  and  that  the  injury  was  far  from  serious. 
As  he  was  his  own  employer,  he  thought  he  would  indulge 
in  a  little  recreation,  and  set  his  men  to  painting,  sail-mak- 
ing, and  all  those  minor  et  ceteras  so  constantly  wanted  on 
board  ship,  while  we  in  company  flogged  the  river  or  oth- 
erwise enjoyed  ourselves.  That  night  we  sat  up  later  than 
usual,  and  fishing  excursions  for  years  gone  by  were  dis- 
cussed ;  tales  told  of  the  first  blood  we  had  drawn,  of  the 
largest  fish  we  had  captured,  and  where  they  had  succumbed 
to  our  prowess.  Old,  musty,  moth-eaten  fly-hooks  and  feath- 
ers, that  appeared  as  if  they  had  not  seen  the  light  of  day 
for  years,  were  produced  from  his  numerous  lockers,  and  as 
they  were  examined,  and  various  pages  turned  over,  numer- 
ous were  the  anecdotes  narrated  in  connection  with  each. 


206 


tHAlUlE  AND  FOHKHT. 


Jock  roused  us  an  hour  before  tlayligfit  next  morning, 
and, having  discussed  an  excellent  cup  of  coffee,  wo  got  into 
the  stern-sheets  of  one  of  the  boats,  with  two  of  the  crew 
to  pull  us  to  our  destination.  As  the  captain  commenced 
fishing,  a  fine  sea-trout  rose  at  the  fly.  Judging  from  the 
splash,  he  was  of  more  than  usual  size,  and  worth  making  a 
second  effort  for ;  again  the  cunningly-disguised  hook  was 
passed  over  his  retreat,  but  with  the  same  result;  a  third 
trial  was  essayed,  and  .is  the  third  time  is  said  to  be  lucky 
so  it  proved,  for  the  fish  was  hooked.  The  struggles  and 
devices  this  fish  practiced  to  escape  were  worthy  of  suc- 
cess. Three  times  he  ran  out  many  a  yard  of  line,  and  on 
each  occasion  jumped  several  times  clear  of  the  water  ;  but 
all  was  futile,  for  after  upward  of  ten  minutes'  play  he  was 
obliged  to  surrender  to  skill  and  practice.  My  companion 
called  upon  me  to  use  the  gaff,  and  with  the  first  effort  I 
succeeded  in  landing  him  on  terra  Jirma.  We  had  no  scales 
to  weigh  him,  and  we  were  too  tired,  and  had  killed  nobler 
specimens  before  w^e  returned  to  think  more  of  this  little 
hero,  but  from  experience  I  am  confident  he  must  have 
reached  nearly  five  pounds.  On  examination  of  our  ground, 
we  mutually  agreed  to  separate,  one  taking  the  left,  and  the 
other  the  right  side  of  the  river.  Trees  and  brush  did  not 
grow  sufliciently  near  its  margin  to  seriously  incommode 
us ;  and  the  rocks,  which  became  uninterrupted  after  leav- 
ing the  coast,  were  flat  and  in  regular  strata,  affording  ex- 
cellent footing,  and  in  many  places  their  table-like  surface 
was  only  a  few  inches  above  the  level  of  the  stream.  One 
of  the  sailors  accompanied  me  to  act  as  gaffer  and  afford 
assistance,  while  the  other  went  with  the  captain.  In  our 
council  of  war,  which  we  held  before  separating,  it  was  de- 
termined that  we  should  try  and  fish  opposite  one  another 
as  much  as  circumstancies  would  allow,  and  under  no  occa- 
sion get  out  of  hail.     A  few  hundred  yards  higher  than  my 


A  FAVORITE  FLY. 


297 


exploring  had  led  me  the  day  before,  the  water  tumbled 
over  some  rocks,  making  a  fall  of  six  or  seven  feet,  and 
then  expanded  into  a  broad,  sullen  pool,  with  a  disturbed 
but  slow  current  down  its  centre  covered  with  patches  of 
foam.  Soon  my  rod  was  together  and  an  old  favorite  fly 
added  to  my  stretcher,  whose  performance  was  frequently 
on  previous  occasions  satisfactory.  This  fly  has  no  name 
that  I  am  aware  of;  in  fact,  I  go  so  far  as  to  imagine  my- 
self the  inventor ;  but,  whether  ray  title  is  good  or  not  to 
this  honor,  I  will  give  its  description,  pro  bono  publico  : 
Wings  from  the  wing-feathers  of  the  bustard  (a  bird  now 
to  be  found  in  quantity  only  on  the  steppes  of  Southern 
Russia  i  I  Tartary;  in  plumage  and  color  it  much  resem- 
bles the  \'  turkey,  whose  feathers,  I  have  no  doubt, 
would  ans  '•  equally  well),  with  a  few  strands  of  the 
scarlet  macaw  or  ibis  mixed  with  it.  Body  of  two  colors, 
equally  divided ;  upper  portion  of  dark  blue  mohair,  lower 
of  gingery  red,  a  red  hackle  round  the  lower  portions  of 
the  body,  and  a  black  round  the  upper.  A  band  of  silver 
tinsel  if  for  a  bright  day,  and  gold  if  for  a  dark  one,  wrap- 
ped carefully  and  regularly  between  the  hackles ;  the  whole 
terminating  with  a  scarlet  tail,  either  of  ibis  or  worsted — 
the  latter  I  prefer.  To  say  that  this  fly  has  not  been  tried 
previously  might  be  deemed  presumptuous ;  but  this  I  will 
way,  that  when  I  first  made  it  I  had  no  pattern,  neither  did 
I  try  to  copy  any  thing  I  had  seen.  I  have  used  it  in  many 
waters,  and  invariably  with  success,  although  I  am  aware 
that  frequently  what  is  found  most  deadly  on  some  streams 
is  totally  ineffective  in  a  neighboring  one. 

My  fly  being  on,  and  the  cast  well  stretched,  I  commenced 
operations,  and  at  the  third  throw  rose  a  heavy  fish  wi^^hout 
pricking  him.  However,  I  thought  I  would  move  down  and 
return  when  \  had  got  to  the  bottom  of  the  pool,  and  offer 
his  excellency  another  chance.    -At  the  fifth  throw  I  rose 

13* 


298 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST, 


and  hooked  a  fine  fish,  who,  as  soon  as  he  felt  he  was  im- 
paled, rushed  down  into  the  still  water.  Not  less  than 
seventy  yards  did  he  run  out  at  this  burst,  and  when  I 
thought  I  had  tui-'^d  him  the  scoundrel  sulked  and  re- 
mained sullen  at  the  bottom.  I  thought  he  was  hooked 
strong,  for  I  struck  him  quick  and  forcibly,  and  therefore 
felt  confident,  barring  accidents,  that  he  was  destined  to  be 
mine.  Slowly,  but  surely,  I  worked  down  stream,  taking 
in  with  guarded  hand  every  inch  of  slack  that  I  could  with 
safety.  When  abreast  of  him  not  over  thirty  yards  were 
off  my  reel,  and  the  ground  was  more  than  usually  accessi- 
ble. With  patience  I  waited  some  minutes,  but  I  might 
just  as  well  have  been  fast  to  a,  rock.  Other  salmon  were 
leaping  around  me,  and  I  could  not  afford  the  time  to  re- 
main inactive.  I  was  determined  to  rouse  my  prize,  ard 
my  anxiety  increased  when  the  sailor  who  accompanied  me 
announced  that  the  skipper  had  just  landed  a  fish.  In  my 
exf'iteraent  I  had  lost  sight  of  my  friend,  but  Crosby's  news 
recalled  him.  The  captain  had  drawn  first  blood.  This 
fact  brought  ray  impatience  to  boiling-point,  and  I  could 
stand  it  no  longer.  Crosby  was  instructed  to  throw  a  few 
stones  above  the  fish,  and  thus  endeavor  to  start  him  from 
his  retreat.  The  first  piece  of  rock  had  scarcely  touched 
the  water  when  the  object  was  attained.  Off  he  went  with 
the  velocity  of  electricity,  and  the  handle  of  my  reel  spun 
round  like  the  fly-wheel  of  an  engine;  although  I  kept  a 
considerable  check,  still  over  ninety  yards  must  have  run 
off,  when,  much  to  my  satisfaction,  he  broke  water  three 
times,  the  first  time  throwing  himself  good  three  feet  clear 
of  his  element.  This  manoeuvre,  although  equently  dan- 
gerous, pleased  me  in  one  way.  I  was  certain  that  his  route 
would  now  be  changed,  and  probably  I  should  succeed  in 
getting  in  some  of  my  line.  True  to  my  former  experience, 
the  fish  now  headed  up  stream,  and  permitted  himself  to  be 


MUM 


1?  ! 

'  ^.   .     . 


A  NOVICE  AT  THE  OAFF. 


299 


somewhat  controlled.  At  moderate  pace  he  retraced  his 
steps,  and  almost  had  got  to  where  I  struck  him,  when, 
putting  a  little  more  strain  on  than  he  admired,  round  he 
wheeled,  and  with  his  previous  velocity  pointed  his  head 
again  for  the  sea.  Still,  the  struggle  had  its  effect;  this 
dash  was  not  equal  to  previous  ones,  and  fifty  yards  of  line 
brought  him  up.  For  ten  minutes  it  was  give  and  take, 
back  and  forward,  up  and  down,  till  at  last  I  brought  him, 
all  resplendent  in  his  silvery  armor,  into  shoal  water.  "  Now, 
Crosby,  now's  your  chance.  Careful,  man ;  don't  be  in  too 
big  a  hr.rry."  But  my  advice  was  disregarded  ;  the  sailor 
made  a  plunge  at  the  fish  with  the  gaff  as  if  it  had  been  a 
harpoon,  scratched  the  salmon's  side,  and  all  my  work  was 
again  before  me.  The  drawing  of  blood  instilled  new  vital- 
ity into  the  fish's  veins,  and  the  previously  vanquished  foe 
was  running  out  line  as  if  he  had  been  fresh  struck.  I 
could  not  be  angry;  when  a  novice  I  had  done  likewise, 
and  no  doubt  my  attendant  had  just  made  his  virgin  ef- 
fort. In  fact,  I  could  not  help  being  amused  at  his  as- 
tonished countenance,  for  doubtless  he  had  already  counted 
the  fish  as  safe.  This  last  struggle  did  not  continue  long ; 
again  I  got  him  in  shoal  water,  when,  having  cautioned  and 
instructed  my  excited  attendant  as  far  as  words  could  avail, 
he  made  a  second  effort,  and  that  correctly.  Twelve  pounds 
was  the  weight  of  this  noble  salmon,  and  often  have  I  found 
that  those  of  this  size  are  more  game  and  afford  a  harder 
fight  than  larger  fish.  The  strain  on  your  rod  is  not  so  se- 
vere or  the  contest  so  long  as  with  a  heavier  antagonist,  but 
the  activity  and  energy  displayed  are  greater. 

Having  overhauled  my  tackle,  and  lighted  a  weed  as  re- 
ward for  my  prowess,  I  again  ascended  to  the  top  of  the 
pool  and  commenced  afresh — visions  of  the  first  fish  I  rose, 
which  I  felt  convinced  was  a  formidable  one,  inducing  me  to 
this  course.    My  leader  had  now  got  straightened  from  the 


'V 


11 


300 


FMAIIilE  AND  FOREST. 


action  of  the  water  and  the  strain  it  had  so  lately  success- 
fully withstood.  To  get  ray  line  clear  away  to  the  requi- 
site length  I  threw  across  the  surging  portion  of  the  streani 
and  dipped  my  tip,  to  prevent  any  unnecessary  delay  when 
I  reached  my  friend's  ambush ;  a  couple  of  casts  brought 
me  to  the  spot,  and  with  careful,  steady  hand  and  measured 
throw  I  placed  my  fly,  straight  as  a  bee-line*  a  few  yards 
above  where  my  prey  was  supposed  to  be  lodged  ;  and  with 
that  regular  motion  that  resembles  the  passage  of  a  shrimp 
through  the  water  I  brought  the  bright,  fascinating  decep- 
tion toward  me,  the  current  at  the  same  time  carrying  it 
downward.  Description,  particularly  if  you  enter  into  de- 
tail, is  always  longer  than  action.  My  handsome  imitation 
— of  what?  for  a  similar  living  fly  I  never  saw — was  a  foot 
or  two  above  the  desired  eddy,  when  a  splash,  a  flourish  of 
a  broad  dark  tail,  answered  by  my  quick,  nervous  hand  giv- 
ing an  electric  strike,  fastened  rae  to  a  splendid  fish.  As 
man  and  animals  choose  different  methods  of  assault  or  de- 
fense, so  this  salmon  selected  a  different  course  to  free  him- 
self. The  hook  had  scarcely  been  in  him  when  four  times 
he  sprang  with  determined  energy  from  his  watery  home, 
each  spring  causing  me,  in  courtesy,  to  lower  the  point  of 
my  weapon,  as  an  inferior  would  salute  a  senior  officer; 
but  this  steeple-chase  escapade  had  not  the  desired  effect, 
and  the  salmon,  comprehending  this,  altered  his  plan  of 
combat,  and  settled  down  deep  in  the  pellucid  river,  although 
far  from  conquered.  An  occasion  of  this  kind  is  a  trying 
ordeal,  and  often  as  dangerous  to  the  tackle  as  any  strata- 
gem that  is  put  in  practice ;  in  fact,  I  have  thought  that  it 
is  pursued  for  the  purpose  of  rubbing  their  snouts  on  the 
rocks  or  gravel,  as  frequently  I  have  found,  after  killing  a 


*A  common  A.nericanism,  originating  from  loaded  bees  always  flying 
straight  to  their,  home. 


w 


A  HAJiJJ  FIGHT. 


301 


tish  who  had  thus  performed,  that  my  fly  was  much  frayed 
and  worn. 

After  waiting  for  many  minutes,  trusting  that  my  foe 
would  change  his  mind  and  his  quarters,  I  became  im- 
patient, and,  believing  my  tackle  to  be  good,  put  on  a  little 
extra  purchase ;  this  ruse  was  successful,  for  with  astound- 
ing velocity  the  fish  started  down  stream  at  racing  pace 
for  parts  unknown.  The  reel  fairly  yelled,  and  instead  of 
the  well-made  sonorous  click  being  heard,  a  discordant 
screech  was  its  utterance.  Close  on  a  hundred  yards  of 
line  rushed  through  the  heated  rings  before  he  slackened 
up,  and  a  good  twenty  yards  more  I  had  followed  his 
course ;  at  the  end  of  this  dash  he  broke  water  splendidly, 
causing  the  spray  to  fly  for  many  feet  around.  Again  and 
again  his  argentine  flanks  reflected  brilliant  radii  in  the 
sunlight,  and  at  each  glistening  reflection  of  the  solar  rays 
I  feared  that  we  should  part  company  without  the  most  re- 
mote chance  of  further  or  more  closely  renewing  our  ac- 
quaintance. Fortune  and  good  tackle,  however,  favored 
me ;  and  I  had  the  satisfaction  of  turning  his  head  for  the 
source  of  the  river,  and  probable  birthplace  of  himself  and 
relations.  With  the  greatest  satisfaction  I  took  in  yard 
after  yard,  my  hopes  rising  as  the  body  of  my  reel  expand- 
ed ;  at  length  I  saw  the  loop  which  attached  the  line  to  the 
leader,  and  the  sight  caused  me  more  satisfaction  than  one 
can  imagine  who  is  engaged  in  the  ordinary  pursuits  of  life. 
Oh  salmon-fishing !  what  pleasure  have  I  enjoyed  follow- 
ing thy  peaceful  pursuit !  What  ecstasy,  what  delight ! 
Would  that  I  had  the  pen  of  the  most  fluent  writer,  or 
tongue  of  the  most  eloquent  spokesman ! — I  could  do  you 
far  more  justice ;  but  still  I  doubt  if  it  is  in  power  of  words 
to  mete  to  you  an  iota  of  the  laudation  and  praise  your 
fascinations  so  eminently  deserve. 

Why  wander  from  facts  ?    Simply  because  I  can  not 


i  :- 


:}02 


PRAIRIE  AND  F(mEiiT. 


help  it.  But  if  I  must  be  recalled  from  the  enchantment 
of  scenes  which  may  never  be  reacted,  bear  with  me  for  a 
moment ;  it  is  but  the  allotted  time  for  a  breather  between 
the  heats — the  welcome  respite  before  the  final  burst  that 
is  to  terminate  the  race.  So  it  was  in  this  instance;  the 
strength,  if  not  the  courage  of  the  regal  foe,  was  weaker, 
and  each  succeeding  effort  became  less  powerful.  Many  a 
yard  of  line  was  again  run  out  and  fely  restored  to  its 
resting-place.  Up  and  down  both  immolator  and  victim 
traced  and  retraced  their  course;  the  one  fearing  to  pur- 
sue, the  other  momentarily  becoming  more  unfit.  Time 
did  its  work,  and,  as  in  all  things,  brought  the  last  scene 
to  a  close.  A  shoal  bank  of  gravel  lay  at  ray  feet,  and,  giv- 
ing my  fish  the  butt,  I  drew  him  in  toward  Crosby,  who, 
ankle  deep,  stood  beneath  me  in  the  cool,  clear  water,  and 
struck  the  gaff  into  the  spotless  silver  side,  and  landed  him 
with  the  adroitness  of  one  who  had  served. a  long  appren- 
ticeship to  the  trade.  Don't  imagine  that  there  is  no  sci- 
ence in  handling  a  gaff;  for  one  expert,  many  muffs  will 
be  found.  How,  then,  you  may  ask,  did  this  sailor  learn  so 
difiicult  a  business  in  so  short  a  space  ?  Probably  because 
he  had  a  natural  aptness;  or,  more  likely,  being  a  sailor, 
he  could  turn  his  hands  much  sooner  than  persons  of  any 
other  trade  to  a  business  which  required  coolness  and  dex- 
terity. 

This  fish  weighed  over  eighteen  pounds,  and  was  fresh 
run  from  the  sea,  for  he  had  not  yet  cleansed  himself  of  the 
sea-lice ;  his  breadth  and  depth  were  enormous  in  propor- 
tion to  his  length — the  best  proofs  of  condition.  In  this 
capture,  from  the  time  the  fish  was  struck  till  I  had  him 
floundering  on  the  bank,  full  forty  minutes  elapsed,  I  hav- 
ing noted  time  previous  to  making  the  first  cast  at  the  head 
of  the  pool. 

On  examining  my  tackle,  I  found  that  it  had  suffered 


OOOD  PEOSPECTS  OF  SPORT. 


303 


considerably,  particularly  the  fly,  which  not  only  had  one  of 
the  hackles  broken,  but  also  the  tinsel ;  I  therefore  stuck  it 
carefully  in  the  crown  of  my  hat,  and  replaced  it  with 
another,  intending  in  the  evening,  when  comfortably  seated 
in  our  snug  cabin,  to  bring  my  pliers,  scissors,  vise,  etc.,  into 
play,  and  construct  its  counterpart,  being  well  satisfied  that 
the  combination  of  color  which  in  previous  exploits  had 
done  me  good  service  was  again  destined  to  reap  fresh 
laurels  and  further  establish  its  reputation.  The  upper  por- 
tion of  'the  stream,  and  the  only  part  I  had  so  far  fished, 
was  now  well  rested ;  and  while  refreshing  myself,  prepar- 
atory to  making  a  third  essay,  several  noble  fish  broke  wa- 
ter in  the  immediate  vicinity  where  I  had  hooked  both  of 
my  trophies.  From  what  I  had  already  seen,  I  was  con- 
vinced that  magnificent  sport  was  before  me,  and  that  I 
had  at  last  arrived  in  the  land  of  plenty — of  salmon.  There 
was  a  satisfaction  in  knowing  this — a  feeling  I  will  not  at- 
tempt to  describe,  a  gratification  of  a  longing  often  felt,  but 
never  expected  to  be  realized.  Fancy,  brother  fishermen, 
having  salmon  as  abundant  as  trout  in  a  good  trout-stream  ! 
In  ten  casts  I  had  three  rises,  out  of  which  I  had  hooked 
and  killed  two  fish ;  and  my  friend  across  the  water  had 
also  been  busy.  Ye  lords  and  commoners,  who  pay  enor- 
mous rentals  for  salmon  rivers,  can  you,  with  all  the  par- 
aphernalia that  a  London  fishing-tackle  establishment  can 
supply,  with  all  the  attendance  and  accessories  that  wealth 
can  purchase,  show  a  finer  record  ?  Truly  I  doubt  if  it  is 
possible.  Again  I  commenced  at  the  head  of  the  pool,  and 
slowly  progressed  downward ;  one  fish  I  stirred,  but  on  a 
second  time  casting  over  him,  he  refused  to  put  in  an  ap- 
pearance. Step  after  step  I  descended,  and  when  not  more 
than  ten  yards  below  where  I  had  hooked  my  first  fish  1 
struck  another :  but,  alas !  the  hook  did  not  hold :  a  few 
spasmodic  struggles,  and  he  was  free. 


)  1: 


n 


11 


I. 


304 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


Salmon  or  trout  fishing  is  not  alone  enjoyable  for  the 
pleasure  of  killing  fish,  but  for  the  scenery  and  attachments 
which  form  the  necessary  adjuncts  to  the  sport.  The  dis- 
tance from  the  haunts  of  fellow-men,  the  solitude  of  per- 
haps the  surrounding  forest,  the  soft  murmuring  of  the 
descending  and  rushing  water,  the  opportunity  afforded  to 
study  nature  in  its  unalloyed  purity — all  tend  to  enhance, 
to  the  true  lover  of  nature,  this  princely  sport ;  the  very 
combination  of  all  these  et  ceteras  making  the  perfection 
which  all  will  acknowledge  to  belong  to  fly-fishing.  * 

I  must  have  been  resting  some  time,  when  a  more  for- 
midable attack  of  insects  recalled  me  to  reality;  and  as  I 
raised  myself  gently,  with  destructive  intent  to  slaughter 
without  compunction  those  most  persevering  assailants,  my 
eye  caught  sight  of  an  animal  evidently  in  full  pursuit  of 
some  prey :  it  was  not  an  otter,  for  its  formation  was  dif- 
ferent ;  nor  a  mink,  for  the  size  was  much  greater ;  again, 
its  gait  was  different  from  both.  Regularly  it  hunted  to 
and  fro,  tail  erect,  nose  down  like  a  spaniel,  and  back  arch- 
ed like  a  weasel,  occasionally  emitting  a  peculiar  sound,  as 
if  giving  tongue,  in  the  enjoyment  of  fresher  indications 
and  more  satisfactory  proofs  of  a  rapidly-successful  termi- 
nation to  its  exertions.  Twice  the  unknown  passed  with- 
in thirty  paces  of  my  resting-place.  Silently  I  watched  the 
chase  ;  and  so  intent  did  I  become,  that  both  black  flics  and 
mosquitoes  had  a  splendid  harvest,  for  a  far  greater  amount 
of  suffering  would  have  been  necessary  to  cause  me  to 
make  a  mgvement  that  might  prevent  my  seeing  the  issue. 
But  the  termination  was  near:  the  stranger  made  two  or 
three  short  casts,  like  a  pointer,  to  confirm  the  information 
that  the  reward  was  near,  and  then  with  a  sudden  rush  for- 
ward sei^^ed  a  fowl — what  kind  I  could  not  tell.  I  was  on 
my  feet  in  a  moment,  either  with  the  intention  of  sharing 
the  spoi'  or  saving  life,  and  rushed  for  the  marauder ;  but 


PEKSEVEHANVE  OF  SALMON. 


305 


ere  I  reached  him  he  dropped  his  prey,  which  I  secured, 
and  he  departed  hurriedly  for  parts  unknown.  The  victim 
I  picked  up,  and  found  lifeless,  was  a  line  specimen  of  the 
merganser,*  about  half  grown,  and,  from  the  wing-feathers 
not  becoming  fully  developed  till  a  later  period  of  life,  un- 
able to  fly.  The  poor  duck's  skull  was  crushed  into  a  jelly, 
so  that  its  early  deprivation  of  life  must  have  caused  only 
a  momentary  pain.  The  assasssin  was  the  scarce  and  in- 
digenous fisher,  only  known  in  northern  latitudes,  and  much 
valued  for  its  fur.  The  little  episode  was  in  keeping  with 
what  all  who  are  observant  of  nature  may  daily  witness — 
the  stronger  insect  devouring  the  weaker,  the  more  power- 
ful animal  the  lesser;  or  mai  the  greatest  tyrant  of  all, 
whatever  falls  within  his  reach,  if  worthy  of  the  exertion,  or 
suited  to  his  fastidious  palate. 

On  recommencing  work  in  the  afternoon,  much  to  my 
satisfaction,  the  fish  were  on  the  move,  and  during  the  few 
minutes  that  were  necessary  to  arrange  my  tackle  over  a 
dozen  succeeded  in  ascending  the  shoot.  It  is  seldom  that 
the  lover  of  nature  can  witness  a  more  satisfactory  and 
pleasing  exhibition  than  that  of  salmon  passing  up  a  leap. 
Their  efEorts  and  perseverance  are  truly  astonishing,  and 
frequently  dozens  of  essays  will  be  made  before  one  is  suc- 
cessful. The  manner  of  performing  their  ascent  is  a  proof 
of  the  immense  velocity,  strength  of  body,  and  enormous 
power  with  which  they  are  gifted;  from  six  *o  eight  feet 
can  be  accomplished  by  them,  and  I  have  heard  m.  ny  per- 
sons assert  more.  When  once  the  fish  gain  the  -summit 
over  the  edge  of  the  upper  bend,  a  few  spasmodic,  rapid 
motions  of  the  tail  carry  them  forward,  and  they  disappear 
so  suddenly  as  to  leave  the  beholder  in  doubt  whether  they 
have  succeeded,  or  been  carried  down  the  fall. 


:  Y 


*  In  Americn  erroneously  called  shell-drake. 


306 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


The  flies  continued  exceedingly  troublesome,  particular- 
ly a  small  species  of  sand- fly.  So  minute  are  they,  that 
when  on  your  hand  it  is  almost  impossible  to  detect  their 
exact  situation ;  but  however  insignificant,  their  powers  of 
torture  are  intense,  for  immediately  after  they  have  punc- 
tured the  skin  a  small  water-blister  rises,  which  smarts  as 
acutely  as  a  burn  from  the  application  of  nitric  acid. 

All  the  concoctions  that  I  have  ever  used  to  repel  these 
pests  have,  so  far,  signally  failed  to  give  the  desired  relief; 
oil  of  pennyroyal,  camphor,  hartshorn,  etc.,  etc.,  are  useless, 
because  their  power  evaporates  the  moment  they  are  ex- 
posed to  the  atmosphere  ;  coal-oil  and  oil  of  tar  retain  their 
virtue  a  little  longer ;  but  they  require  too  frequent  appli- 
cations for  one  engaged  in  exciting  sport,  as  well  as  being 
filthy  and  soiling  to  all  you  come  in  contact  with,  making 
your  approach  most  objectionable  to  your  companions  from 
the  offensiveness  of  the  smell.  If  some  of  our  numerous 
ingenious  chemists  would  set  their  brains  to  work  and  dis- 
cover a  practical  means  for  repelling  these  vampires,  they 
would  earn  the  good-will  of  all  the  followers  of  the  gentle 
craft. 

The  fifth  or  sixth  throw  rose  and  hooked  a  fine  fish, 
which  made  me  uncommonly  busy ;  he  was  remarkably 
lively,  and  kept  me  on  the  move  the  first  ten  minutes.  I 
scarcely  ever  remember  to  have  seen  a  salmon  break  water 
so  frequently ;  after  the  first  burst,  with  about  sixty  yards 
out,  he  showed  himself  six  or  seven  times,  springing  on 
each  occasion  several  feet  clear  of  the  surface.  However, 
these  exertions  told  upon  my  foe,  for  when  I  turned  him 
he  submitted  to  be  guided  till  all  surplus  line  was  in. 
Through  a  stumble  which  I  made  on  passing  over  the 
rocks,  I  accidentally  checked  him  more  abruptly  than  Mr. 
Salmon  thought  was  courteous,  for  ofE  again  he  went  with 
the  velocity  of  a  steam-engine.     However,  my  tackle  was 


SALMON  FISHINO. 


307 


Strong  and  hook  well  planted,  and  soon  a  second  time  I 
had  him  under  control ;  and  by  exercising  a  little'politeness 
of  the  give-and-take  order,  I  brought  him  into  shallow  wa- 
ter. Jock,  now  my  faithful  attendant,  was  by,  and  with 
intense  delight  waded  into  the  stream.  "  Careful,  boy  !  be 
cautious !"  But  all  was  thrown  away ;  he  made  a  grab  at 
the  fish  with  the  gaff,  as  the  sailor  had  done  before,  but 
fortunately  dragged  it  in  water  too  shoal  for  swimming. 
Jock  saw  he  had  made  a  bungle,  and  was  determined  to  re- 
trieve, if  possible,  his  lost  reputation,  so  threw  himself  on 
the  struggling  salmon,  and  after  a  wrestling  match  of  some 
minutes,  with  imminent  danger  to  my  tackle,  proudly  walk- 
ed ashore,  wet  from  head  to  foot,  with  the  prize  tightly 
cuddled  up  in  his  arms.  Although  at  first  tempted  to 
anathematize  the  young  scamp,  I  enjoyed  a  hearty  laugh  at 
the  nonchalance  with  which  the  monkey  treated  hirf  ducking. 

Moving  down  the  water,  I  recommenced  operations,  and 
rose  two  good  fish.  Soon  I  got  fast  to  a  third,  which  gave 
me  ten  minutes'  splendid  sport ;  then  he  sulked,  and,  after 
two  or  three  futile  attempts  to  escape,  succumbed.  I  was 
surprised  at  obtaining  so  easy  a  victory,  but  this  was  ex- 
plained by  finding  a  piece  cut  out  of  his  back,  in  front  of 
the  first  dorsal  fin,  upward  of  an  inch  in  width  and  two  or 
three  long.  In  trout -fishing,  I  have  once  or  twice  taken 
fish  similarly  wounded;  and  as  there  were  no  gill-nets  at 
either  place,  the  only  satisfactory  reason  I  can  attribute  is 
that  either  a  seal  or  an  otter  was  the  perpetrator. 

As  the  evening  advanced  I  changed  flies,  and  selected 
what  I  have  long  known  by  the  sobriquet  of  "  the  drum- 
mer." It  is  composed  thus:  the  mottled  feathers  of  the 
peacock's  wing,  with  a  few  strands  of  golden  pheasants  for 
wings;  body,  light-brown  fnr  of  the  bear  next  the  hide, 
mixed  with  orange-sable  fur  and  gold-colored  mohair ;  gold 
tinsel,  loosely  but  regularly  wrapped  with  blood  or  claret 


if 

•% 
] 


308 


PliAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


colored  hackle  round  the  shoulder,  and  ordinary  red  hackle 
lower  down. 

This  fly  has  always  been  with  me  a  great  favorite,  more 
particularly  if  the  water  is  clearing  out  after  rain,  and  with 
confidence  I  recommend  it;  at  the  same  time,  I  would  have 
two  or  three  sizes,  the  choice  to  be  dictated  by  the  size  of 
water,  color,  and  hour.  Some  persons,  in  addition,  have 
forked  it  with  two  or  three  hairs  of  the  squirrel  for  tail; 
and  a  very  worthy  friend  and  admirable  fly-fisher,  whose 
success  was  a  guarantee  of  his  skill,  used  to  aftirm  that 
when  fish  wouldn't  rise  at  "  the  drummer "  you  might  as 
well  go  to  bed.  As  the  results  will  show,  my  couch  was* 
not  put  in  requisition;  for  ere  many  minutes  I  touched  a 
splendid  fish,  but  unfortunately  did  not  hold  him.  After  a 
few  minutes  without  success,  I  moved  a  very  heavy  fish 
without  touching  him.  Again  I  gave  him  a  chance,  and  he 
tumbled  over  the  fly  like  a  porpoise,  without  any  apparent 
inclination  to  take.  The  third  time  that  I  offered,  however, 
I  was  more  successful,  for  in  striking  I  hooked  the  fish  foul. 
The  result  was  curious,  and  far  from  satisfactory;  for  this 
fellow  put  me  through  a  course  of  spurts  which  opened  my 
optics,  and  further  convinced  me  of  the  uncertainty  of  the 
movements  or  plan  of  escape  that  is  probable  to  be  adopted 
by  the  impaled.  What  was  my  surprise — and  I  am  confi- 
dent many  others  would  have  been  similarly  affected — to 
see  my  victim  remain  on  the  surface,  not  jumping  out  of 
the  stream,  but  beating  the  water  with  his  tail,  and  violent- 
ly struggling,  making  the  liquid  fly  for  feet  around.  For 
several  moments  this  continued,  when,  changing  operations, 
down  stream  he  went  with  surprising  velocity.  The  reel 
screeched,  and  I  followed  with  agile  and  careful  steps,  when 
— confound  it !  the  devil  take  it ! — readers,  you  must  ex- 
cuse, remember  the  aggravation — my  rod  broke  at  the  fer- 
rule of  the  second  joint,  and  my  line  returned  to  my  feet 


REQUISITES  FOR  SUCCESSFUL  FISHING. 


309 


like  a  coil  of  rope  scientifically  thrown  by  an  expert  boat- 
man. I  was  in  despair.  Such  damage  could  not  be  re^ 
paired  where  I  then  was ;  my  leader  and  new  fly  were  gone, 
possibly  for  the  estuary  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  and,  like  a 
vessel  stranded  in  a  falling  tide,  I  was  perfectly  helpless. 
To  find  the  cause  of  this  unexpected  casualty  was  my  first 
endeavor.  The  wood  of  the  rod  at  the  fracture  looked 
fresh  and  sound,  the  brass  appeared  to  be  put  on  correctly, 
but  there  was  something  to  be  discovered  yet  of  which  I 
was  still  ignorant,  and  to  the  reel  I  went  to  solve  the  prob- 
letn.  In  winding  up  or  t.aking  in  line  I  had,  through  care- 
lessness, permitted  one  round  to  lap  across  the  other.  In 
paying  away  the  two  had  jammed,  coming  to  a  full  stop. 
My  rod  had  been  broken,  my  fly  stolen,  and  my  casting-line 
was  probably  performing  duty  for  a  pennant  to  a  fish,  to- 
tally disregarding  distance  or  trespass.  "  There's  no  use 
grieving  over  spilled  milk,"  some  one  says,  and  after  I  had 
got  rid  of  the  fizz,  like  a  bottle  of  soda-water,  I  was  calm 
enough,  only  regretting  I  had  lost  the  salmon,  for,  with  all 
fishermen,  the  fish  that  gets  off  is,  of  course,  a  very  great 
deal  larger  than  any  you  have  captured. 

To  be  a  perfect  fisherman  you  require  more  excellences 
than  are  usually  to  be  found  in  such  a  small  space  as  is  al- 
lotted to  man's  carcass.  You  should  be  patient,  forbearing, 
vigorous,  decided,  and  prompt  in  emergency,  with  the  con- 
stitution of  a  water-spaniel,  and  the  ingenuity  of  an  Ark- 
wright  or  a  Fulton.  Being  deficient  in  many,  more  par- 
ticularly in  the  latter  requisites,  I  was  compelled  to  shut  up 
shop  by  putting  up  my  rod  in  its  canvas  covering,  regret- 
ting my  bad  luck,  my  stupidity,  and  last,  though  not  least, 
the  fish  that  had  worsted  me  at  my  own  game.  Not  being 
in  the  ):f%t  of  humor,  of  course  Jock  was  out  of  the  way, 
and  not  within  hailing  distance.  What  a  capital  chance  to 
vent  the  balance  of  my  spleen,  not  at  all  improved  by  the 


310 


rHAIJilE  AND  FOREST, 


coiifouiuled  flics,  whoso  attacks  since  I  iiad  ceased  to  be 
employed  became  more  noticeable ;  in  truth,  if  it  were  jjos- 
sible,  I  doubt  not  that  I  should  have  liked  to  saddle  the  boy ' 
with  his  absence  being  the  cause  of  my  mishap.  After  sev- 
eral times  shouting  his  name,  ho  at  length  appeared,  hat  in 
hand,  bare-headed,  with  a  smile  of  child-liko  satisfaction  on 
his  face  that,  even  in  my  irate  state,  I  had  not  the  heart  to 
destroy.  To  my  inquiry  where  he  had  been,  with  a  look  of 
satisfaction  he  informed  me  he  had  found  and  harried  a 
nest,  producing  his  hat  full  of  the  stolen  treasures.  After 
giving  him  a  lecture  on  the  impropriety  of  such  a  course, 
and  the  probabilities  of  his  being  devoured  by  wolves  and 
bears,  or  even  cannibals,  if  he  left  my  side,  I  could  not  help 
making  an  inspection  of  what  his  hat  contained.  Truly, 
he  had  a  hatful,  for  upward  of  a  dozen  pale,  cinnamon- 
blotched  eggs,  a  trifle  larger  than  those  of  the  domestic 
pigeon,  lay  at  the  bottom.  The  nest  and  parent  bird,  from 
description,  left  me  in  no  doubt  that  Master  Jock  had  de- 
prived some  luckless  rock  ptarmigan  {Lagopus  albus)  of 
her  embryo  brood ;  and,  after  lecturing  him  on  the  enormi- 
ty of  such  a  proceeding,  and  begging  a  share  of  the  spoils, 
we  started  for  the  place  of  rendezvous. 

The  evening  after  my  first  day's  sport  was  not  an  idle 
one,  for  though  the  body  inclined  to  rest,  full  well  I  knew 
that  on  my  exertions  in  fly-tying  depended  the  sport  of  to- 
morrow. To  make  a  good  fly  requires  not  only  skill,  but 
patience  and  knowleoije,  with  a  correct  taste  in  the  blend- 
ing of  colors,  a  strong  hand  to  make  secure  work,  and  the 
employment  of  the  best  materials.  How  frequently  indif- 
ferent hooks  and  gut  are  purchased  because  they  are  a  tri- 
fle cheaper !  but  if  we  could  foresee  the  severe  ordeal  that 
may  some  day  be  in  store  for  our  tackle,  and  the  splendid 
fish  that  may  be  lost  through  this  parsimony,  we  should 
be  better  suited  with  half  the  quantity  at  double  the  cost. 


'     ADVICE  FOR  ANGLERS. 


311 


Your  feathers  should,  if  possible,  be  fresh,  with  the  pile  un- 
broken, your  furs  and  mohair  uncut  by  moths,  and  your 
silk  the  strongest,  yet  the  finest,  that  can  be  procured.  Of 
course,  many  of  your  principal  featliers  will  require  to  bo 
purchased ;  but  if  the  fisherman  is  also  a  shooter,  there  are 
few  game  birds  that  will  not  afford  him  choice  materials ; 
so  that  during  autumn  and  winter,  when  his  gun  instead  of 
rod  18  his  companion,  he  can  daily  make  additions  to  his 
treasures,  which  will  servo  him  in  pursuing  the  sister 
amusement. 

Every  thing  which  makes  deception  more  alluring  should 
be  resorted  to  by  an  angler ;  for,  let  his  experience  be  ever 
so  great,  he  will  always  find  opportunities  to  regret  his  de- 
ficiencies. Where  all  depends  so  much  upon  chance,  it  is 
impossible  to  see  the  disadvantages  under  which  you  may 
frequently  labor,  or  the  awkward  positions  in  which  you 
may  occasionally  be  placed,  where  it  is  absolutely  neces- 
sary for  the  fisherman  to  put  on  an  unusual  and  severe 
strain  to  turn  a  hooked  fish,  so  as  to  prevent  his  going  over 
some  surging  fall,  or  down  or  up  stream,  inaccessible  to  the 
steps  of  the  angler.  Sometimes,  of  course,  the  loss  of  fish, 
or  even  fish  and  tackle,  can  not  be  avoided ;  but  good,  care- 
ful work  and  the  best  materials  will  frequently  obviate  so 
annoying  an  ordeal.  However,  having  struck  your  fish,  the 
tackle  and  your  own  coolness  .are  generally  responsible  for 
the  issue,  and  woe  betide  you  if  careless  knot  or  indifferent 
tying  should  have  been  made  in  constructing  your  leader 
or  fly. 

I  would  therefore  advise  all  gentlemen  to  acquaint  them- 
selves thoroughly  with  the  method  of  their  construction, 
for  though  they  may  not  have  time  and  inclination  to  fol- 
low it  as  a  pursuit,  they  may  chance  to  be  placed  in  posi- 
tions where  their  pleasure  and  the  success  of  their  expedi- 
tion may  be  entirely  marred  by  want  of  this  knowledge. 


312 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


I  would  further  advise  that  your  leaders  should  be 
stained  as  nearly  as  possible  to  the  color  of  the  water ;  but 
care  should  always  be  taken  not  to  make  them  too  dark,  as 
you  thus  go  to  the  opposite  extreme  that  you  adopt  this 
plan  to  avoid.  Brown  and  a  bluish- gray  or  light  neutral 
tint  are  decidedly  the  best  colors,  the  former  to  be  used 
when  the  water  is  clcring  out  after  heavy  falls  of  rain. 
To  procure  the  first-mentioned  color,  a  few  ounces  of  alum 
dissolved  with  a  pound  of  the  bark  of  the  walnut-tree  when 
the  sap  is  up,  I  think,  is  the  simplest  recipe;  while  the  lat- 
ter color  can  be  got  by  substituting  logwood  for  walnut. 

Of  course,  as  the  season  advances  and  the  quantity  of 
water  diminishes,  and  the  noonday  sun  becomes  more 
powerful,  the  size  of  your  flies  must  be  proportionately  less. 
Even  the  hours  of  the  day  have  to  be  consulted  for  choice 
of  size;  for  instance,  from  break  of  day  till  sunrise,  and 
from  sunset  till  dark,  very  large  fli.^s  frequently  will  kill 
tish,  while  the  smaller  would  be  totally  neglected. 

An  Irish  gentleman  who  bad  for  many  years  been  con- 
sidered one  of  the  most  successful  and  expert  performers 
on  the  river  Corib,  while  on  a  fishing  tour  in  America,  had 
the  kindness  to  show  me  the  treasures  contained  in  his 
valuable  fly-book.  Among  a  remarkably  choice  collection 
of  all  sizes,  shades,  and  construction,  I  observed  many  so 
large  that  they  excited  my  curiosity  and  inquiry.  These 
were  several  inches  long  in  the  body,  and  were  commonly 
used  in  Galway  for  early  morning  or  late  evening  fishing. 

Those  projecting  an  excursion  to  the  distf»nt  wilds  of 
Labrador  should  pay  particular  attention  to  arriving  there 
at  the  correct  season.  As  to  specifying  a  day  or  a  week, 
that  is  perfectly  impossible,  for  as  long  as  the  M'ater  is  im- 
pi'egnated  with  snow  not  a  fish  will  be  taken ;  and,  of 
course,  the  lateness  or  earliness  of  spring,  which  frequently 
varies  one  or  two  weeks,  nnist  receive  consideration  and 


IBM 


THE  ''HORNET''  FLY. 


313 


guide  your  steps.  The  first  few  days  after  the  salmon  com- 
mence to  run  large  flies  are  more  successful,  but  as  the 
season  advances  their  size  must  be  reduced. 

The  next  morning,  bright  and  early,  found  us  again  upon 
the  river.  The  number  of  seals  which  I  had  seen  the  pre- 
vious evening  induced  me  to  take  my  rifle,  with  the  in- 
tention of  having  a  little  practice  during  the  noonday  rest. 
The  rocks  in  the  estuary  appeared  a  perfect  nursery  of 
these  curious  animals,  and,  from  their  numbers  and  well- 
known  destructive  habits,  immense  quantities  of  salmon 
must  be  annually  destroyed  to  satisfy  their  fastidious  and 
insatiable  appetites.  I  have  since  found  out  that  the  hab- 
itants (persons  of  French  extraction)  frequently  pay  visits 
to  this  locale  for  the  capture  of  these  valuable  amphibia, 
their  oil  and  skins  fetching  long  prices  in  our  principal 
markets.  Since  yesterday  the  water  had  fallen  some  inches, 
but  I  had  little  fear  that  where  fish  were  so  numerous  and 
little  disturbed  it  would  unfavorably  affect  their  disposi- 
tion to  take.  Having  faith  in  the  fly,  I  designated  "the 
drummer."  I  determined  to  experimentalize  with  others, 
retaining  my  old  friend  as  a  last  resource  in  case  of  failure. 
I  therefore  selected  a  former  favorite,  known  by  many  as 
"  the  hornet,"  and  whose  texture  and  shape  had  produced 
good  results  in  many  localities.  The  fly  is  made  as  fol- 
lows :  Wings  from  the  fine  fibres  of  the  English  cock  pheas- 
ant's tail;  body  of  yellow  worsted  or  amber -colored  mo- 
hair, the  mohair  to  be  preferred ;  the  body  to  be  ribbed 
with  black  and  made  full,  with  a  largo  red  cock's  hackle, 
black  at  the  roots,'  wrapped  several  times  under  the  butt  of 
the  wings.  Having  got  my  rod  together,  I  commenced 
work,  and  the  success  which  had  attended  my  efforts  of  the 
day  before  and  my  choice  of  flies  were  quite  equaled  by 
this  day's  performance.  The  third  cast  I  rose  a  superb  fish, 
but,  unfortunately,  scratched  him,  and  had  the  same  rais- 

14 


r 


Tiff! 


K  '{ 


314 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


fortune  repeated  before  many  minutes.  However,  by  the 
time  I  had  got  thirty  yards  down  the  w^ater,  I  struck  an- 
other whose  unusual  size  and  activity  evoked  unlimited  ad- 
miration. His  first  rush  was  truly  magnificent;  and  as  soon 
as  I  succeeded  in  stopping  his  precipitous  course,  he  re- 
turned almost  to  my  hand  with  the  same  velocity,  prevent- 
ing my  immediately  recovering  the  slack  of  my  line.  From 
pleasure  a  moment  before  I  was  now  nearly  in  grief,  and 
but  for  luck  should  certainly  have  lost  my  prize.  However, 
being  thus  favored,  I  got  again  upon  equal  terms.  A  quar- 
ter of  an  hour  more  and  the  gaff  pierced  his  silver  coat  of 
mail,  and  I  had  the  satisfaction  of  capturing  a  handsome 
and  well-made  fourteen-pound  fish. 

That  morning  I  killed  eight  fish,  the  majority  weighing 
about  nine  pounds,  and  the  number  I  rose  and  touched 
must  have  been  quite  equal.  One  salmon  I  rose  six  times 
in  succession,  but  ultimately  failed  to  secure:  from  the 
swirl  he  left  in  the  water  I  should  imagine  he  was  about 
fifteen  pounds.  On  my  way  down  to  the  tideway  I  ob- 
served two  new  specimens  of  birds,  whose  plaintive  notes 
were  very  sweet ;  their  names  I  have  never  been  able  to 
ascertain,  but  doubtless  they  belong  to  the  numerous  bunt- 
ing family.  Cross-bills,  snow-birds,  and  cedar-birds  were 
abundantly  numerous;  and  although  I  did  not  succeed  in 
obtaining  any  of  their  nests,  I  am  convinced  that  they  were 
engaged  in  rearing  families,  as  I  perceived  several  gather- 
ing grubs  and  insects,  with  which  they  flew  to  the  neigh- 
boring brush. 

Having  got  to  the  boat,  we  started  f6r  the  veef  to  try 
what  could  be  done  with  the  seals.  But  they  did  not  like 
our  appearance,  and  commenced  scuffling  off  the  rocks  and 
dropping  into  the  water  ere  we  got  within  range.  How- 
ever, one  old  scoundrel — grim  arid  savage-looking  through 
age  —  appeared  less  alarmed  than  his  fellows,  and  remain- 


SEALHUNTINO. 


315 


ed  stationary,  watching  our  motions  with  dubious  eyes. 
When  within  fifty  yards,  the  men  ceased  pulling,  and  per- 
mitted the  boat  to  forge  ahead  with  her  own  way.  Pull- 
ing the  tiller-lines  so  as  to  alter  the  course,  I  got  a  clean 
shot,  and  turned  the  ungainly,  awkward  brute  over;  but 
his  struggles  carried  him  down  the  incline  till  he  fell  in  the 
water,  when  he  sunk  immediately.  After  much  difficulty 
we  managed  to  get  him  out,  and  on  examination  found  the 
ball  had  pierced  the  skull  a  little  above  the  right  eye.  His 
weight  must  have  been  upward  of  three  hundred  pounds, 
and  vhe  quantity  of  grease  that  came  from  the  carcass  as 
we  divested  him  of  his  pelt  was  surprising.  The  hide  of 
these  animals  makes  most  excellent  shoes  when  properly 
tanned  ;  and  I  have  been  told  that  nothing  in  the  shape  of 
leather  is  so  capable  of  turning  water.  One  shot  was  suffi- 
cient to  expel  the  seals  from  their  haunt,  so  we  returned 
shoreward.  However,  just  as  we  were  about  to  land,  a 
youngster  popped  up  his  head,  which  I  let  drive  at,  but 
without  precision. 

The  flies  to-day  continued  very  annoying,  and  the  irrita- 
tion caused  by  their  bites  itched  so  severely  that  it  affected 
the  majority  of  our  tempers ;  the  only  respite  that  could  be 
obtained  was  when  out  on  the  water,  where  the  draught  of 
air  had  full  scope.  Oh  that  some  one  versed  in  the  lik- 
ings and  dislikes  of  these  insidious  foes  would  find  a  meth- 
od that  would  protect  the  angler  from  these  pests  when  he 
is  enjoyinq:  a  trip  that  has  no  other  drawbacks  !  To  de- 
scribe my  sufferings  would  be  impossible;  suffice  it  to  say 
that  my  actions  were  sufficient  to  cause  a  physician  to  im- 
agine me  fit  for  incarceration  in  a  lunatic  asylum.  Even 
now  I  can  scarcely  revert  to  the  subject  without  feeling  in- 
clined to  scratch  myself. 

Mevenons  d  nos  moutons.  With  salmon-fishing  the  im- 
aginary moment  of  victory  is  frequently  the  ptecursor  of 


316 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOZiE^T. 


defeat ;  the  noble  adversary  but  relaxes  his  ellorts  that,  in 
the  resulting  confidence  which  follows,  he  may  the  more 
successfully  concentrate  his  powers  for  a  final  dash,  and 
frequently  succeeds  in  escaping.  I  can  compare  it  to 
naught  else  than  the  skillful  swordsman  who,  finding  him- 
self overmatched  in  his  antagonist,  gives  ground  and  feigns 
fatigue  to  imbue  his  foe  with  confidence,  hoping  that  a 
careless  pass  will  still  afford  him  an  opportunity  to  deliver 
the  deadly  thrust.  Men  have  always  foibles,  always  para- 
mount pleasures ;  their  tastes  are  as  diversified  as  the  col- 
oring in  Joseph's  coat,  as  the  physiognomy  which  w^e  bear. 
While  one  is  devoted  to  the  horse,  another  is  to  the  hound; 
while  one  loves  the  gun,  another  loves  the  rod.  To  ques- 
tion their  tastes  and  argue  with  them  the  reason  would 
probably  be  unproductive;  but  of  this  I  am  convinced — 
no  man  ever  felt  the  pleasure,  the  intense  excitement,  of 
having  a  salmon  on  a  rod,  or  even  the  more  diminutive 
trout,  without  being  again  desirous  of  renewing  the  sensa- 
tion. The  very  uncertainty  causes  this  fascination.  A 
gentleman  for  whom  I  have  much  esteem,  and  who  has 
been  busily  employed  all  his  Hfe  in  mercantile  pursuits, 
principally  abroad  and  in  countries  where  fly-fishing  was 
not  practicable,  a  few  years  ago  met  me  on  a  fishing  excur- 
sion. His  essays  with  the  fly,  from  lack  of  experience,  were 
not  generally  successful;  but  when  I  hooked  a  heavy  fish 
and  handed  him  the  rod  to  play  the  deluded  victim,  his 
countenance,  particularly  if  victorious,  exhibited  more  sat- 
isfaction than  I  believe  it  would  have  done  if  he  had  made 
thousands  of  dollars.  Fishing — legitimate  fishing  with  rod 
and  fly — requires  but  to  be  known  and  practiced  to  have 
more  votaries  than  any  other  sport  extant. 

The  next  afternoon  I  killed  four  more  fish,  all  worthy  of  a 
place  in  the  memory  of  the  most  successful  angler,  all  deserv- 
ing of  notice  for  their  plucky  efforts  to  avoid  their  doom. 


A  DISAPPOINTMENT. 


317 


Just  as  I  was  thinking  of  closing  up  for  the  night,  my 
companion  shouted  to  me  that  there  >vas  a  bear  in  the 
water.  On  looking  up  stream,  sure  enough  Bruin  was  in 
sight,  stemming  the  current  and  boldly  pushing  for  this 
side.  With  hasty  impulse  I  laid  my  rod  down  to  grasp 
my  rifle,  but,  alas  !  my  attendant,  fatigued  with  carrying  it, 
and  seeing  small  prospect  of  its  being  required,  had  left 
it  leaning  against  a  rock  some  distance  off.  You  may  well 
imagine  my  disappointment,  for  when  the  bear  l^^^t  the  wa- 
ter he  was  not  over  twenty-five  yards  above  my  position. 
This  animal,  judging  from  his  size,  must  have  been  quite 
four  hundred  pounds — a  size  much  greater  than  it  general- 
ly attains  in  the  north-west.  Until  he  had  firmly  gained 
his  footing  he  had  not  observed  us,  and  the  ludicrousness 
of  his  alarm  and  astonishment  when  he  became  aware  of 
our  vicinity  was  laughable  in  the  extreme.  Off  he  went 
with  a  rush  into  the  brush,  making  dry  and  withered  limbs 
crash  before  him. 

As  the  constant  and  severe  attention  of  the  flies  put  fish- 
ing out  of  the  question,  and  I  had  become  surfeited  with 
tobacco  from  the  number  of  cigars  I  had  consumed,  under 
the  fallacy  that  the  smoke  would  deprive  me  of  their  com- 
pany, I  was  compelled,  as  a  last  resource,  to  start  on  a  tour 
of  inspection,  at  the  same  time  hoping  that  ray  exertions 
would  be  rewarded  with  the  discovery  of  some  quadruped 
or  bird  with  which  I  had  been  previously  unacquainted. 
On  entering  the  scrub-bush  the  mosquitoes  became  more 
numerous,  and  I  have  little  hesitation  in  saying  that  the 
blood-suckers  of  Arkansas  and  Mississippi,  which  bear  the 
same  name,  are  far  from  proficients  when  you  com'pare 
tliem  with  those  of  Labrador.  After  half  an  hour's  rougrh 
scrambling  through  the  morass,  I  succeeded  in  gaining 
more  open  ground.  Rising  toward  tlie  upper  ridges  of 
high  lands,  the  squaw-berry  and  blue-beriy  grew  in  profu- 


i 


318 


PHAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


sion,  and  the  wild  strawberry  was  scattered  in  patches 
wherever  sufficient  sustenance  from  the  impoverished  soil 
could  be  gained  for  its  support.  In  straying  about,  I  found 
two  nests  of  the  night-hawk ;  the  maternal  parent  of  both 
was  of  different  plumage  from  those  I  have  so  frequently 
seen  on  a  summer  evening  on  the  banks  of  the  Ohio  River ; 
the  eggs  in  each  were  four  in  number,  of  a  dirty  color, 
smudged  with  brown,  and  almost  lying  on*  the  bare  rock. 
This  bird  is  doubtless  migratory,  resorting  here  in  summer 
for  the  purpose  of  propagation,  and  spending  its  winters 
in  the  more  genial  climate  of  the  Southern  States,  where  it 
changes  its  plumage  to  one  of  less  brilliancy,  and  receives 
the  local  appellation  of  "  bull  bat." 

In  the  rocks  and  sand  I  found  some  fossils  of  shells,  and 
on  such  elevated  ground  that  it  caused  me  at  the  time  sur- 
prise and  wonder  whether  shell-fish  were  once  denizens  of 
land  instead  of  water,  or  whether  these  mountains  had  once 
been  submerged.  Hares  appeared  to  be  numerous,  as  their 
paths  crossed  and  recrossed  each  other,  forming  a  perfect 
labyrinth.  Ptarmigan  and  the  Canada  partridge  I  also  saw 
so  frequently,  that  I  have  little  doubt,  in  the  month  of  Sep- 
tember, fine  sport  might  be  obtained  with  dog  and  gun. 
Bear  signs  were  also  abundant,  a  solitary  stump  showing 
evidence  of  the  power  of  their  claws,  and,  from  the  height 
some  of  these  convincing  proofs  extended  up  its  side,  the 
Bruin  family  are  evidently  not  stunted  in  growth  in  this 
locality.*  After  walking  for  almost  an  hour,  I  succeeded 
in  reaching  the  crest  of  one  of  the  numerous  swells,  and,  as 
I  turned  to  survey  the  scenery,  one  of  the  most  enchant- 
ing panoramas  that  ever  I  witnessed  broke  upon  my  vision. 


♦  In  localities  where  bears  are  numerous,  all  appear  to  select  the  same 
tree  to  try  their  claws  upon.  Of  course  the  larger  bears  make  the  highest 
incisions.  From  these  marks  an  expert  hunter  can  form  a  good  estimate 
of  the  size  of  the  visitors. 


A  BROOK-TROUT. 


319 


Bays  and  arms  of  the  sea,  innumerable  small  islands,  numer- 
ous reefs  of  rocks  and  uncountable  mountain  peaks  stretch- 
ed as  far  as  the  eye  could  see;  while  almost  beneath  my 
feet  lay  our  goodly  little  schooner,  reduced  by  distance  to 
a  mere  cockle-shell ;  the  busy  crew,  passing  to  and  fro  upon 
the  beach,  looked  scarcely  larger  than  ants.  Here,  with 
the  unobstructed  breeze  playing  upon  me,  I  got  a  little 
peace  from  the  troublesome  insects,  and  I  would  have  re- 
mained longer  but  that  the  hour  indicated  the  close  prox- 
imity of  the  time  to  close  my  evening  fishing. 

The  fly  I  had  used  in  the  morning  had  done  me  such 
good  service  that  I  determined  to  re-employ  it,  and  the  re- 
sult was  quite  equal  to  anticipation.  I  soon  got  to  work, 
and  in  a  few  minutes  was  fast  to  a  fine  fish,  who,  although 
he  made  a  noble  struggle,  succumbed  in  less  than  twenty 
minutes.  Moving  my  position  from  some  slow  water,  I 
took  a  cast  in  the  throat  of  a  stream  formed  by  the  projec- 
tion of  some  rocks — not  that  I  expected  to  rise  a  fish,  but 
to  get  the  line  out  of  my  way  as  I  scrambled  over  some 
rough  ground ;  in  fact,  the  water,  although  rapid,  looked  too 
shallow  for  the  retreat  of  any  thing  over  a  pound  weight. 
With  surprise  I  rose  a  fine  brook-trout  {Salmo  fontinalis). 
Of  course  such  a  fish  was  not  to  be  despised,  so  I  gave  him 
a  second  chance,  and  had  the  satisfaction  of  succeeding  in 
striking  him.  With  my  strong  tackle  and  rod  I  treated 
him  cavalierly,  and  in  about  ten  minutes  had  the  pleasure 
of  handling  and  canvassing  his  weight,  which  was  a  trifle 
over  five  pounds. 

I  never  remember  to  have  seen  a  fish  of  more  brilliant 
coloring  and  beautiful  proportions,  and  I  have  little  doubt 
that  on  a  seven-ounce  trout-rod  he  would  have  given  a  good 
half-hour's  pleasure.  These  streams — or  those  which  lie  in 
this  portion  of  the  American  continent — swarm  with  trout, 
more  particularly  when  you  ascend  some  distance  above 


1^:;; 


m 


i« 


i 


li 


J 


320 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


the  tideway ;  and,  from  information  I  have  received  from 
fishermen  who  are  acquainted  with  these  waters  that  lie 
nearer  to  civihzation,  I  have  reason  to  believe  that  brook- 
trout  can  there  be  caught  upward  of  ten  pounds  in  weight. 
Moving  down  to  the  run,  I  recommenced,  and  rose  a  very 
large  fish  the  second  cast;  but  our  acquaintance  got  no 
farther,  for  all  my  blandishments  were  futile  to  induce  him 
again  to  move.  A  little  lower  down  I  was  more  success- 
ful, for  I  struck  a  regular  Trojan,  whose  memory  still  lives, 
and  to  whose  performances  I  award  the  palm  over  all  others. 
As  soon  as  he  felt  himself  pricked,  contrary  to  the  cus- 
tom of  his  brethren  in  a  similar  predicament,  he  rushed  up 
stream  with  the  velocity  of  a  bullet,  through  the  throat  of 
surging  water  and  into  the  next  pool ;  fortunately,  the 
ground  was  accessible,  and  I  was  enabled  to  follow,  but  for 
the  life  of  me  I  could  not,  dared  not,  take  a  pull  on  him. 
From  the  fish's  movements  I  should  think  he  was  swimming 
about  two  feet  deep,  and,  from  the  power  and  speed  that  he 
showed,  appeared  totally  to  ignore  any  control.  However, 
it's  a  straight  road  that  has  no  turn,  and  if  I  was  led  a 
dance  in  the  first  instance,  my  turn  was  coming.  After 
walking  two  hundred  yards  and  giving  out  nearly  one  hun- 
dred yards  of  line,  the  drag  told,  and  my  friend  thought  it 
better  to  change  his  course;  down  stream  he  came  with  a 
rush,  still  without  showing,  but  just  as  he  got  to  the  smooth, 
oily-like  water  that  preceded  the  break  of  the  rapid,  he  3om- 
menced  springing  with  great  rapidity.  Five  or  six  times 
this  ruse  was  repeated,  when  off  again  my  gallant  foe  went 
down  stream  with  as  much  energy  and  spirit  as  he  had  at 
first  displayed.  Well,  to  make  a  long  story  short,  to  and 
fro  we  both  went,  up  and  down,  first  one  way  and  then 
another,  till  the  fun  became  hard  work,  and  the  exertion 
caused  globules  of  perspiration  to  stand  on  my  face,  and, 
worse  than  all,  the  confounded  flies  attacked  me  with  re- 


^:li 


SEA- TROUT. 


321 


newed  vigor,  availing  thcnisclves  of  my  unprotected  situa- 
tion. Again  and  again  I  took  in  line — as  frequently  to  be 
run  out ;  but  the  exertion  had  told  on  the  foe,  and  at  length 
I  succeeded  in  getting  him  ultimately  gaffed.  Truly  he 
was  a  beauty — twenty  pounds,  if  an  ounce.  From  what 
I  have  above  narrated,  some  idea  may  be  formed  of  the 
sport  in  store  for  the  visitor  to  the  salmon  rivers  of  the 
West. 

The  tackle  in  use  in  England  will  answer  here,  the  size 
of  flies  being  guided  by  the  water  and  weather;  still  I 
would  advise  some  of  Canadian  tying  being  added  to  the 
stock.  The  Nova  Scotia  rivers  are  now  too  much  fished 
to  waste  time  upon  by  the  visitor  from  this  side  of  the 
Atlantic,  so  I  append  a  list  of  the  best  streams  on  the 
northern  shore  of  the  St.  Lawrence :  they  are  the  Outardes, 
Godbout,  Trinity,  St.  Margaret,  Moisa,  St.  John,  Mingan, 
and  Esquimaux,  the  farther  to  the  eastward  the  better. 
The  stream  where  I  had  the  success  narrated  entered  the 
sea  near  the  southern  end  of  the  Straits  of  Belle  Isle. 


SEA-TROUT. 

That  beautiful  member  of  the  salmon  family  must  strike, 
when  mentioned,  in  the  reader's  heart  a  chord  that  will 
reverberate  with  pleasures  possibly  long  past,  but  none  the 
less  delightful  to  recall. 

In  writing  upon  the  present  subject,  I  retreat  in  thought 
to  the  memories  of  youth,  and  many  and  many  a  scene  re- 
curs to  my  memory  of  which  I  was  the  hero,  and  the  cap- 
tive valued  over  all  I  possessed.  The  first  time  I  essayed 
for  sea-trout  was  when  low  in  my  teens.  Previous  to  this 
attempt  many  spotted  beauties  from  the  brooks  and  rivers 
of  'my  Highland  home  had  filled  my  creel ;  but  I  was  not 
satiated  with  such  game,  for  it  was  far  too  noble  to  have 
such  effect ;  still  I  craved  to  kill  a  sea-trout,  for  I  deemed 

14* 


322 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


it  correctly  the  connecting  link  between  river-trout  and 
lordly  salmon. 

Where  mountain  peak  and  inland  loch,  bubbling  stream 
and  placid  lake  combine  to  make  a  picture  worthy  of  an 
artist's  eye,  or  a  landscape  to  be  beloved  by  the  Celt,  I 
made  my  debut  in  taking  the  life  of  the  silver- sheened, 
gracefully-built  beauty,  whose  home  is  indifferently  the  pel- 
lucid burn  or  the  storm-tossed  ocean.  Of  the  spot  where 
my  maiden  effort  was  made  history  has  no  story  to  tell  of 
ruthless  slaughter  or  blighted  ambition ;  still  it  is  a  bonny 
place,  and  such  as  once  gazed  upon  is  likely  not  easily  to 
be  forgotten. 

I  allude  to  the  head  of  Loch  Long,  in  Argyleshire,  where 
the  river,  or  rather  brook,  Lyon,  enters  the  mountain- 
fringed  loch  on  which  stands  the  village  of  Arrochar.  The 
month  of  August  had  hardly  passed  away  when  the  clear 
skies  and  mountain  peaks  became  overcast  with  that  dark, 
drifting,  humid  mass  of  clouds  iiat  betoken  a  heavy  fall  of 
rain.  The  weather-wise  were  not  wrong  in  their  conjec- 
tures, for  truly  the  gates  of  heaven  were  opened,  and  hill- 
sides and  glens  for  two  successive  days  were  pelted  with 
the  pitiless  rains  till  the  burns  became  brimful,  and  the 
surplus  water  waxed  wrath  against  the  inclosing  banks 
as  if  the  yellow,  turbid  stream  would  burst  its  boundary. 
Impatient  youth  proverbially  is,  and  I  fretted  at  the  im- 
prisonment that  the  weather  imposed  upon  me;  but  to 
some  extent  I  was  consoled  by  learning  that  when  t-be 
spate  cleared  out  the  sea -trout  would  be  on  the  take, 
and  that  I  should  have  a  chance  of  trying  my  skill  with 
a  nobler  foe  than  those  that  had  previously  fallen  to  my 
prowess. 

At  length  the  late  '-ain-gorged  hill-sides  had  returned- to 
their  normal  condition,  and  the  mud- stained  stream  had 
gradually  reverted  to  its  proper  color.     The  time  had  come 


MY  FIJiST  SEA-TUOUT. 


323 


for  me  to  prove  my  skill.  Nor  long  was  I  kept  in  doubt ; 
the  fourth,  or  fifth,  or  sixth  throw  hooked  a  fish,  such  a 
fish  as  never  before  had  made  me  feel  diffident,  or  previous- 
ly made  me  doubt  the  seasoning  and  strength  of  my  rod. 
No  sooner  had  the  barbed  hook  fastened  in  its  insidious 
hold,  and  the  impaled  monarch  learned  that  he  was  captive, 
than  every  efEort  of  his  lithe  and  agile  frame  was  brought 
into  play  to  recover  freedom.  In  every  struggle,  in  every 
effort  to  burst  the  bonds  that  made  him  captive,  there  was 
an  utter  recklessness  of  consequences,  a  diaregar<l  for  life 
that  was  previously  unknown,  as  from  side  to  side  of  the 
pool  he  rushed,  or  headlong  stemmed  the  sweeping  current. 
Nor  did  the  hero  confine  himself  to  his  own  element ;  again 
and  again  he  burst  from  its  surface  to  fall  back  fatigued, 
but  not  conquered.  The  battle  was  a  severe  one,  a  strug- 
gle to  the  death ;  and  when  my  landing-net  placed  the  vic- 
tim at  my  fer%  T  felt  he  had  died  the  death  of  a  hero. 
Such  was  my  first  sea-trout,  no  gam'^i*^  truly,  than  hundreds 
I  have  captured  since ;  but  what  can  be  expected  of  a  race 
of  which  every  member  is  a  hero  ?  But  to  bonnie  Scotland 
and  its  purple  braes,  its  snow-clad  peaks  and  birchen  slopes, 
its  sweet-noted  mavis  and  plaintive  cushey-doo,  I  bid  adieu, 
and  flit  across  the  broad  ocean  till  the  stormy  estuary  of  the 
St.  Lawrence  is  reached ;  for  here,  as  well  as  in  my  native 
land,  the  sea-trout  cleaves  the  briny  tidal  wave  or  ascends 
rushing,  reckless  rivers.  But,  strange  to  say,  in  Eastern 
and  Western  streams  these  beauties  are  very  dissimilar  in 
their  habits :  in  the  former  you  capture  them  in  the  upper 
waters  or  fluvial  portions ;  in  the  latter,  if  you  desire  suc- 
cess, it  is  in  the  sea  you  must  seek  them,  near  where  an 
affiueul  empties  its  volume.  I  know  of  no  greater  pleasure 
in  this  world  (so  scantily  supplied  with  them)  than  to  be 
seated  in  a  light,  buoyant  boat,  dancing  to  the  music  of  the 
ever-murmuring  ripples,  deftly  whipping  the  surrounding 


:]24 


rUAllUE  AND  FOREST. 


diminutive  waves.  It  is  to  mature  man  what  the  rocking 
of  the  cradle  is  to  the  child ;  tlie  latter,  because  it  has  no 
knowledge  of  the  past  or  future,  is  lulled  to  sleep;  the 
former  feels  soothed  for  the  present,  and  in  his  enjoyment 
forgets  past  trials,  and  hopes  for  fortune  in  time  to  come. 
There  is  an  alloy  in  this  entrancing  pastime  as  well  as  in 
nearly  all  others — to  practice  it  is  death  and  pain  to  that 
which  affords  you  the  pleasure ;  but  how  few  of  the  grati- 
fications of  life  are  without  this :  the  success  of  one  is  the 
downfall  of  another.  Even  the  mosquito,  in  gratifying  his 
appetite  for  blood,  is  not  satisfied  to  depart  after  he  has 
glutted  himself  to  excess,  but  he  must  leave  a  virus  behind 
him  that  poisons  the  orifice  from  whence  he  has  drawn  his 
sustenance. 

At  the  mouth  of  all  streams  that  salmon  frequent  in  the 
Dominion  of  Canada  sea-trout  will  be  found  in  abundance; 
even  the  estuaries  which  the  larger  species  has  forsaken 
they  do  not  in  consequence  desert. 

There  was  a  time  when  the  coast  of  Maine  was  abundant- 
ly stocked  with  sea-trout ;  but  that  age  has  passed ;  for  long 
have  these  waters  been  glutted  with  the  debris  of  manufac- 
tures, or  the  still  more  injurious  sawdust  from  the  pine 
logs  which  have  been  severed  into  planks  for  houses  or 
ship-building  purposes. 

The  sea-trout  of  Canada,  we  are  informed  by  authorities, 
differs  from  that  of  British  waters.  Although  Thave  cap- 
tured numbers  of  both,  I  have  never  been  able  to  detect 
where  this  distinction  existed.  To  my  eye  they  are  iden- 
tical in  appearance;  and  the  fly  which  lures  the  one  cap- 
tures the  other.  Even  when  hooked,  their  exertions  ',o  es- 
cape are  essentially  the  same,  characterized  by  efforts  which 
only  cease  when  nature  is  exhausted.  At  the  same  time,  I 
would  not  be  certain  that  both  have  the  same  number  of 
spines  in  the  caudal,  ventral,  or  dorsal  fins;  and  on  a  differ- 


BlilLLlANTL  Y-VOLOUKD  FISH. 


326 


once  in  such  points  the  naturalist  feels  jiistifietl  in  forming 
his  decision. 

Day  after  day  I  have  fished  for  these  beauties ;  hundreds 
have  I  taken ;  and  if  the  reader  and  I  are  like-minded,  ho 
will  vow  that  there  is  no  more  noble  quarry  to  capture,  or 
one  which,  when  taken,  makes  a  more  gallant  struggle  for 
freedom  and  life. 

CHAR  (brook-trout). 

The  States  of  New  Jersey,  Maryland,  and  Pennsylvania 
rnay  be  considered  the  southern  limit  on  the  American  con- 
tinent of  the  habitat  of  this  brilliantly-colored,  beautiful 
fish.  How  far  to  the  North  they  can  be  found  is  difficult 
to  say,  but  of  one  thing  we  are  certain,  viz.,  that  all  the 
streams  and  lakes  of  Labrador  or  the  Hudson  Bay  terri- 
tory are  abundantly  supplied  with  them.  It  has  been  ob- 
served by  me,  and  frequently  have  I  heard  it  commented 
on  by  others,  that  the  trout  from  the  Southern  waters  are 
dull,  listless,  and  much  less  brilliant  in  their  hues  than  those 
from  the  Northern  streams ;  at  the  same  time,  the  artifi- 
cial fly,  so  greedily  taken  in  high  latitudes,  ceases  to  be  as 
attractive  a  lure  as  you  progress  South,  the  fish  of  some 
streams  even  refusing  entirely  to  notice  it. 

Doctor  Bethune  was,  I  believe,  the  first  authority  who 
informed  the  public  that  the  Salmo  fontinalis  was  a  dif- 
ferent species  from  the  Salmo  farrio,  and  afterward  identi- 
fied the  former  with  the  char  of  the  lakes  of  the  north  of 
England,  Scotland,  Norway,  and  Sweden.  My  own  impres- 
sion is  that  he  is  correct.  Professor  Agassiz,  one  of  the 
first  authorities,  adopts,  I  think,  this  view,  for  he  uses  the 
same  Latin  synonym — a  proof  at  least  to  the  skeptical  on 
this  point  that  he  did  not  consider  them  Salmo  farrio.  1\\ 
Northern  waters  they  take  the  fly  greedily,  and  when  hook- 
ed are  very  game.     The  largest  I  have  captured  was  nine 


^m^ 


326 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


'■il 


:  : 


pounds  ill  weight;  this  was  a  vara  aois.  However,  three 
and  four  pound  fish  are  abundant  in  large  rivers ;  in  in- 
ferior streams,  of  course,  they  run  much  smaller. 

The  brilliancy  of  their  scales  is  really  marvelous,  far  out- 
rivaling the  most  exaggerated  conceptions ;  for  their  backs 
are  a  beautiful  clear  tortoise-shell,  gradually  approaching 
a  pale  green  to  the  lateral  line,  where  a  deep  orange  color 
commences,  deepening  in  richness  over  the  stomach,  while 
longitudinally  they  are  traversed  by  lines  of  spots  of  the 
brightest  vermilion.  The  States  of  Maine,  New  Hampshire, 
and  Vermont  possess  them  in  abundance;  the  tributaries 
flowing  from  the  North  into  the  g''2at  lakes  and  the  rivers 
and  streams  of  Wisconsin,  Iowa,  and  Minnesota  fairly 
»warm  with  them.  New  Brunswick  and  Nova  Scotia  fresh 
waters  are  also  well  supplied. 

The  size  of  fly  usually  employed  in  the  capture  of  sea- 
trout  are  the  best  for  taking  this  fish,  unless  the  angler  be 
following  his  pursuit  on  some  diminutive  brook,  when 
smaller  should  be  used.  Besides  the  Salmo  fontinalis,  in 
American  waters  are  to  be  found  a  great  number  of  other 
species  of  iSalmo7iidce — such  as  the  great  lake-trout,  the 
Glover  salmon,  and  the  land-locked  salmon — the  latter  sel- 
dom exceeding  four  pounds,  receiving  its  name  from  the 
strong  resemblance  it  bears  to  the  Salmo  salar,  to  which  it 
is  not  inferior  in  any  quality  save  size. 

The  exertion  of  crossing  the  Atlantic  for  fly-fishing  will 
be  nmply  repaid  the  sportsman  by  the  quantity  and  weight 
of  the  fish  he  will  capture;  for  there  the  fish  are  not  trou- 
bled with  the  fastidiousness  of  appetite  which  in  Great 
Britain  causes  it  always  to  be  a  source  of  doubt  whether 
the  water  is  in  proper  order,  the  wind  in  the  east,  or  thun- 
der overhead — either  of  which,  or  all  combined,  too  fre- 
quently cause  the  roo^t  industrious  to  return,  after  a  long 
and  laborious  day,  with  an  empty  basket.  A  description 
•)f  an  excellent  river,  and  how  to  get  to  it,  I  append. 


w 


A   DELIGHTFUL  DRIVE. 


327 


i-i 


Having  arrived  at  Portland,  State  of  Maine,  and  enjoyed 
a  good  meal  and  rest  at  one  of  the  numerous  hotels,  the 
terminus  of  the  Grand  Trunk  Railroad  will  have  to  be 
reached,  where  you  will  procure  your  ticket  for  Bethel, 
Oxford  County.  The  scenery  through  which  you  will  now 
rush,  dragged  by  the  iron  horse,  is  magnificent,  alike  suit- 
ed to  the  taste  of  artist  or  sportsman ;  but  one  thing  is 
certain  to  cause  a  regret,  viz.,  that  the  numerous  beautiful 
rivers  and  brooks  that  so  frequently  will  be  seen  or  trav- 
ersed are  now  destitute  of  fish,  at  least  so  I  was  informed, 
although  I  could  not  learn  the  reason  why.  Visions  of 
mill-dams  without  fish-ways,  and  tons  of  sawdust  floating 
in  islands,  hovered  before  me,  and  probably  whispered  a 
true  cause  of  the  destruction  of  the  thousands  of  fish  which 
doubtlessly  swarmed  here  before  genus  homo^  with  his  de- 
vices and  march  of  improvement,  had  defiled  these  for- 
merly pure,  pellucid  brooks.  Bethel,  where  you  leave  the 
train,  will  be  found  a  model  village,  which,  for  cleanliness 
and  neatness,  it  would  be  impossible  to  surpass.  As  yon 
progress  along  the  principal  thoroughfare,  the  pretty 
dwellings,  overshadowed  by  handsome  shade-trees,  remind 
you  of  some  of  Longfellow's  beau  ideal  New  England 
homes.  The  hotel  also  i3  very  comfortable,  anci  Mr.  Love- 
joy,  the  proprietor,  can  give  good  information  and  instruc- 
tion as  to  your  future  proceedings.  He  also  will  supply 
you  with  a  conveyance  to  take  you  to  Upton,  distant  about 
twenty-seven  miles,  over  a  road  far  from  good ;  but  if  the 
weather  be  fine,  you  will  be  so  delighted  with  the  beauti-x 
ful  panoramas  of  wild  and  magnificent  mountain  views  that 
time  will  slip  by  rapidly,  and  ruts  and  jolts  will  b'^  totally 
forgotten.  For  the  first  five  or  six  miles  of  your  drive  you 
pass  along  the  margin  of  the  grand  Androscoggin  liiver, 
exhibiting  a  succession  of  pools  and  raj. ids  so  eminently 
suited  for  salmon  retreats,  that  you  can  not  fail  to  regret 


028 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


that  these  noble  fish  are  debarred  from  visiting  this  choice 
water.  A  few  miles  farther  your  course  winds  by  a  beau- 
tiful mountain  brook  well  stocked  with  trout,  and  in  which 
a  good  basket  can  always  be  taken.  We  will  now  suppose 
you  have  reached  the  Half-way  House,  a  pretty  little  road- 
side tavern,  where  the  horses  are  baited,  and  the  traveler, 
if  he  chooses — we  would  strongly  advise  you  not  to  fail  to 
— may  insist  upon  making  the  acquaintance  of  mine  host, 
a  worthy  man,  with  a  wonderful  fund  of  information  on 
various  interesting  subjects.  The  allotted  half-hour  hav- 
ing expired,  and  the  inner  man  been  refreshed,  forward  is 
again  the  word,  and  more  beautiful  becomes  the  scenery. 
Wild,  irregular  hills,  with  bases  densely  covered  with  tim- 
ber, but  stony  and  irregular  toward  their  summit,  frown 
over  your  head ;  precipices,  clifEs,  and  yawning  chasms 
alternately  vary  the  prospect,  throwing,  for  grandeur,  the 
choicest  wilds  of  Scotland  in  the  shade.  Only  an  able 
poet,  with  a  romantic  ^urn  of  mind,  is  wanted  to  immor- 
talize by  soul-stirring  lays  these  stupendous  mountain  fast- 
nesses, accessible  alone  to  the  wild  denizens  of  the  forest, 
or  to  him  who  is  gifted  with  the  nerve,  steady  foot,  and 
reliable  eye  of  the  chamois-hunter  of  the  Alps. 

Having  at  length  reached  the  upper  portion  of  the  vil- 
lage of  Upton,  an  entire  change  comes  over  the  landscape ; 
far  beneath  your  feet  lies  nestled,  in  all  the  splendor  of 
luxuriant  timber,  with  irregular  and  changing  outline,  the 
lovely  sheet  of  water,  Umbagog,  thickly  studded  with  in- 
numerable islands  of  every  form,  size,  and  outline.  On 
first  beholding  this  scene.  Loch  Lomond  was  visibly  re- 
called to  mind,  and  the  more  frequently  T  beheld  this  pic- 
ture the  stronger  was  the  impression  of  the  striking  simi- 
larity. Again,  this  lake  will  have  additional  charms  to 
the  sportsman,  for  here  trout  abound  in  immense  numbers. 
But,  supposing  you  started  from  Bethel  after  breakfast,  the 


HINTS  FOR  ANOLERS. 


329 


sun  must  now  be  near  dipping  the  horizon,  when  you  have 
reached  thus  far,  so  that  you  had  better  hurry  forward  and 
gain  the  hospitable  roof-tree  of  Mr.  Simeon  Frost,  the  hotel 
proprietor,  ere  night  envelops  the  earth  with  her  sombre 
mantle  of  darkness. 

Being  met  on  the  porch  by  the  honest,  straightforward 
Simeon,  you  may  safely  resign  yourself  to  his  care,  which 
would  be  dangerous  in  this  locale  in  many  other  hands,  as 
some  of  the  hosts  are  peculiar  in  their  belief,  and  strongly 
adhere  to  a  sinister  interpretation  of  the  words,  "  I  was  a 
stranger  and  ye  took  me  in."  But  once  marshaled  under 
the  banner  of  Mr.  Frost,  you  will  be  safe  from  their  phi- 
lanthropic designs ;  and  further,  you  will  be  well  fed  and 
housed.  If  you  be  an  epicure,  fail  not  to  ask  for  a  bonne 
bouche — which  we  relished  among  these  pine-clad  hills — 
viz.,  trout  stewed  in  cream.  The  white-bait  of  the  London- 
er, the  canvas-back  duck  of  Delmonico's,  and  the  green 
turtle-steak  of  the  city  fathers,  are  all  thrown  in  the  shade 
by  this  delicious  dish.  You  have  but  to  scent  it  in  future 
to  make  your  mouth  water,  and  visions  of  epicurean  feasts 
float  before  your  eyes.  Now,  if  you  will  only  place  your- 
self in  my  hands — and  well  I  know  the  smooth  waters  and 
rocky  shoals,  tlie  pleasures  and  disappointment  that  beset 
the  stranger  in  this  beautiful  but  inhospitable  legion — I 
will  keep  your  feet  free  from  pitfalls,  and  your  purse  safe 
from  too  frequent  incursions.  Having  eaten  your  evening 
lueal  and  retired  to  your  room,  send  for  your  host,  and 
learn  from  him  all  particulars  necessary  to  guide  your  fu- 
ture steps.  Wherever  you  go  you  will  catch  fi<h;  some- 
times the  fishing  at  Errol*  is  so  good  as  to  well  deserve  a 
visit  ere  you  go  up  to  the  dam  where  the  Androscoggin 
River  leaves  Lower  Richardson  Lake.     Supposing  tlie  sea- 


\ 


*  A  village  a  few  miles  distant  from  Upton. 


i: 


330 


PRAIMIE  AND  FOREST. 


son  to  be  the  end  of  May — the  time  we  should  advise  to 
be  selected  for  your  visit — delightful  brook-fishing  may  be 
obtained  beneath  the  dam  in  the  Little  Cambridge  River, 
which  flows  within  fifty  yards  of  the  hotel.  Many  and 
many  a  morning  and  evening  1  have  taken  here  three  or 
four  dozen  beauties,  some  of  them  over  a  pound,  and  all 
game  to  the  last. 

I  know  no  river  better  suited  for  the  increase  of  trout, 
and  doubtless  at  the  present  time  it  would  swarm  with 
thousands  all  along  its  course,  but  that  a  selfish  being 
named  Abott  projected  and  erected  a  dam  about  twenty 
feet  high,  to  collect  water  to  drive  a  mill ;  and  worse,  had 
the  inhumanity  not  even  to  leave  a.  fish-way ;  consequently, 
Izaak  Walton's  disciples  have  to  walk  many  a  wearisome 
mile  up  this  brook  before  fish  can  again  be  found  abundant, 
and  then  they  are  so  poor  and  badly  fed  that  they  are  al- 
most unfit  for  the  table.  Now  the  difference  between  those 
beneath  the  dam  and  those  above  is  doubtless  caused  by 
the  unfortunate  denizens  of  the  upper  water  being  prevent- 
ed from  making  their  annual  visits  to  Lake  Umbagog  to  re- 
cruit, or  enjoy  the  cool  retreats  afforded  in  its  deep  waters 
at  that  portion  of  the  season  when  the  summer  sun  pours 
down  its  refulgent,  heated  rays  upon  the  unprotected  water. 
Persons  who  resided  in  this  locality  years  ago  informed  me 
that,  before  this  impediment  on  the  Cambridge  was  made, 
trout  swarmed  all  the  way  up  to  the  source  in  ten  times 
the  quantity  they  do  now.  But  why  grumble  or  find  fault 
in  this  particular  instance  ?  Are  such  shameful  structures 
not  to  be  found  in  every  section  of  this  and  my  own  land — 
a  glaring  example  of  want  of  forethought,  or  selfishness,  or 
worse  ?  But,  thank  goodness,  such  abuses  in  America  are 
about  to  be  stopped ;  State  legislation  has  taken  the  matter 
in  hand,  and  is  determined  to  enforce  such  severe  penal- 
ties, that  I  hope,  ere  long,  to  see  the  temporarily-deserted 


tT 


A  KILLING  FLY. 


331 


retreats  of  the  spotted,  brilliant-hued  trout  again  teeming 
with  their  numbers,  and  the  placid,  sheltered  pools,  now- 
still  and  tenantless,  boiling  with  their  breaks  and  rises  as 
they  either  roll  over  in  sport,  or  rush  headlong  to  the  sur- 
face after  the  dainty  and  fragile  ephemera. 

A  lady,  who  formed  one  of  our  party  frequently  of  an 
evening,  without  moving  from  the  brMge,  took  a  dozen 
fish  in  an  hour  or  so,  plainly  proving  that  even  the  unini- 
tiated can  here  be  successful,  for  madame  previously  had 
never  seen  a  trout  captured  in  her  life.  The  flies  which  we 
should  recommend  for  this  stream  are  about  the  same  in 
size  as  those  in  use  on  Scotch  and  Irish  rivers,  and  of  the 
same  coloring,  black  and.  red  hackles  being  preferable.  We 
also  found  a  fly  constructed  as  follows  most  killing:  the 
wings  from  the  tail  of  the  ruffed  grouse,  with  a  few  strands 
of  scarlet  ibis,  brown  cock's  hackle  under  wings ;  body  of 
ground-hog's  fur,  plucked  off  the  stotyach,  with  a  couple 
of  strands  of  guinea-fowl  feather  for  tail.  If  the  water 
should  have  been  discolored  with  rain,  substitute  a  little  of 
the  golden  pheasant  top-knot  for  the  termination,  instead 
of  the  guinea-fowl.  By  coming  here  early  in  the  season, 
as  above  advised,  you  will  moreover  escape  the  attacks  of 
those  confounded  pests,  the  black  flies,  whic';  generally 
make  their  appearance  the  second  week  of  June,  when 
woe  betide  you ;  for,  if  you  are  compelled  to  submit  to 
their  persecutions,  your  tortures  from  the  results  might 
turn  your  hair  gray  in  a  night,  or  drive  you  crazy  for  the 
remainder  of  life.  No  one  can  sympathize  with  the  unfor- 
tunate Egyptiaiis  so  well  as  he  who  has  visited  the  Maine 
fishing  regions  in  the  fly  season. 

Before  leaving  Upton  for  the  wilds,  as  by  this  name  your 
future  resting-places  may  well  be  called,  we  would  revert 
to  the  practice  of  throwing  sawdust  that  comes  from  mills 
into  the  water.     Now,  although  some  may  not  be  aware  of 


332 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


it,  there  is  nothing  more  destructive  to  trout  and  salmon 
than  these  minute  particles  of  timber.  The  fish,  as  they 
rest  head  up  stream,  imbibe  them  into  their  mouths,  whence 
they  pass  into  the  gills  and  stomach,  ultimately  causing 
disease  and  death.  When  this  is  known  to  be  the  case, 
would  it  not  be  well  to  insist  that  this  debris  should  other- 
wise be  disposed  of,  which  may,  without  much  labor  or  in- 
convenience, be  accomplished  by  fire?  Hendrik  Hudson, 
the  first  explorer  of  the  magnificent  river  which  bears  his 
name  in  America,  speaks  of  that  river  as  swarming  with 
salmon ;  but  where  are  they  now  ?  Gone,  never  to  return, 
unless  repopulated  by  artificial  means;  in  fact,  expelled  by 
dams  and  sawdust,  and  such  like  accompaniments  of  the 
human  race.  As  with  the  Hudson,  so  it  would  be  every- 
where, if  preveniive  measures  were  not  adopted  to  stop 
these  abuses,  so  glaring  and  unjustifiable,  that  every  well- 
thinking  man  can  scarce  fail  to  anathematize  the  short- 
sighted  policy  that  has  formerly  marked  the  advance  of 
civilization.  But  it  is  not  only  fish  in  America ;  game  has 
also  thus  ruthlessly  been  dealt  with,  till  forests  and  farms 
cease  to  re-echo  the  musical,  plaintive  notes  of  the  partridge, 
or  the  sonorous,  drumming  call  of  the  ruffed  grouse.  For 
our  part,  the  most  picturesque  walk,  the  most  delightful 
rural  drive,  if  not  graced  with  the  presence  or  note  of  the 
feathered  warblers,  the  cooing  of  the  dove,  or  the  flight  of 
birds,  loses  half  its  fascinations,  half  its  enchantments,  and 
consequently  half  the  pleasures  it  would  otherwise  afford. 

Supposing  that  you  have  passed  a  few  days  at  Upton, 
and  enjoyed,  with  that  relish  which  is  so  natural  to  a  sports- 
man, the  manifold  pleasures  of  a  country  excursion,  we 
should  advise  your  now  leaving  civilization,  and  reveling 
in  the  solitude  of  the  pathless  wood,  where  man  seldom  in- 
trudes, and  nature  remains  undefiled  or  deformed  except 
by  the  assassin  hand  of  the  axeman.     If  you  be  a  good 


ADVICE  FOB  SPORTSMEN. 


333 


pedestrian,  we  would  recommend  your  feet  as  the  most 
enjoyable  and  natural  method  of  gaining  the  portage  where 
the  Upper  Androscoggin  has  to  be  crossed ;  but  as  you  may 
not  be  experienced  in  woodcraft  and  all  the  sciences  that 
teach  the  solitary  hunter  to  surely  follow  a  blazed  i)ath, 
procure  the  services  of  Collins,  an  agreeable  and  obliging 
man,  to  perform  the  duty  of  guide ;  and  if  he  still  possess- 
es his  noble  dog,  the  jaunt  might  possibly  be  diversified  by 
the  treeing  of  a  bear,  for  Mr.  Bruin  here  roams  at  large, 
undisputed  master  of  a  gigantic  deraesu?  At  the  same 
time,  care  must  be  taken  to  ascertain  that  a  boat  is  avail- 
able to  transport  you  across  the  river,  for  thus  early  in  the 
season  the  water  will  be  found  too  high  and  too  cold  for 
fording  or  swimming. 

But  if  previous  confinement  and  sedentary  habits  have 
relaxed  the  muscles  and  made  the  feet  tender,  get  Mr. 
Frost  to  negotiate  for  the  services  of  the  steamboat,*  taking 
care  that  a  direct  understanding  as  to  charge  is  made  before 
embarking.  In  fact,  go  not  to  the  dam — do  nothing  till  you 
are  certain  what  will  be  the  cost ;  for  once  you  are  caught 
sleeping,  if  aw  ay  from  Mr.  Frost's  protecting  influence,  you 
may,  on  awakening,  find  your  molars  gone,  or  your  strength, 
if  it  consists  in  the  length  of  your  purse.  To  be  forewarned 
is  to  be  forearmed,  and  now,  if  you  fall  into  the  snare,  blame 
not  the  writer. 

The  voyage  by  water,  distance  fourteen  or  fifteen  miles, 
is  charming.  After  leaving  the  ])lace  of  embarkation,  you 
proceed  about  two  miles  down  the  Cambridge,  which  is 
here  dead  and  sluggish,f  till  you  roach  the  entrance  to' 
Lake  Umbagog,  when  your  vessel's  prow  is  pointed  for  dis- 


u 


'i' 

■J    I 
V. 


*  By  what  other  name  to  designate  this  extraordinary  piece  of  mechan- 
ism I  know  not ;  but  be  advised  while  on  board  always  to  keep  the  wood 
bunkers  between  you  and  the  boiler. 

t  Once  a  favorite  haunt  of  moose. 


834 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


tant  hills  fringed  with  giant  timber.  On  either  side,  isl- 
ands after  islands  dot  the  bosom  of  the  water,  while  ver- 
dant mountains  and  prirneval  forests  stretch  far,  far  beyond 
the  limits  allotted  to  vision.  The  two  or  three  hours  which 
are  taken  to  cross  the  lake  will  flit  by  rapidly.  If  you  have 
appreciation  of  what  is  sublime,  of  what  Nature  in  her 
grand  conceptions  formed,  the  impressions  indented  on  the 
tablets  of  your  memory  will  doubtless  be  permanent.  It 
matters  not  how  skeptical  and  unbelieving  some  may  be, 
place  them  where  the  giant  works  of  the  Creator  are  vis- 
ible, and  how  insignificant  forever  after  must  they  view  the 
puny  efforts  and  constructions  of  their  fellow-beings,  and 
cease  to  doubt  that  there  is  One  above  omnipotent  and  all- 
powerful  ! 

Fail  not,  on  reaching  the  centre  of  the  lake,  to  face  about 
and  look  for  the  White  Mountains,*  and,  if  the  day  is  clear, 
ample  will  be  your  recompense;  for,  towering  high  above 
all  other  competitors,  they  smile  gloriously  over  the  land- 
scape, softened  into  a  dreamy  reality  by  distance,  and  fur- 
rowed on  their  summits  by  lines  of  virgin  snow,  reflecting 
a  thousand  brilliant  prismatic  colorings.  But  the  irrevo- 
cable pace  of  time  glides  on,  and  pleasure  flits  with  rapid 
stride.  Our  nondescript  boat  now  appears  to  head  direct 
on  shore,  and  so  we  advance  till,  when  within  a  few  yards 
of  the  rocks,  the  helm  is  put  hard  down,  and  we  quickly 
turn  to  the  left  and  enter  the  Androscoggin,  up  Avhose  wa- 
ters a  most  charming  vista  is  beheld,  the  drooping  limbs  of 
the  trees  on  either  side  playfully  kissing  the  rippling  stream, 
and  the  irregularly-formed  rocks  splitting  the  water,  and 
diverting  its  course  in  tangent  lines,  making  many  a  min- 
iature whirlpool  or  gurgling  eddy,  the  haunt  and  breeding- 
place  of  innumerable  trout.   If  the  river  is  sufficiently  high, 

♦  Mount  Washington  is  six  thousand  feet  liigh. 


THE  ANDROSCOOOIN  RIVER. 


386 


\ 


you  will  be  able  to  proceed,  without  leaving  the  steamboat, 
as  far  as  the  commencement  of  the  portage  ;  but,  should  it 
be  otherwise,  your  baggage  and  self  will  require  to  be  trans- 
ferred to  boats,  to  bo  propelled  up  stream  by  pole  and  pad- 
dle in  the  skillful  hands  of  son;o  of  the  proficient  back- 
woodsmen. 

The  trip  up  the  river  is  worthy  all  the  distance  you  have 
wandered.  The  view  is  ever  changing  and  ever  beautiful. 
Now  you  float  over  some  still,  dark  pool ;  next,  with  labo- 
rious and  slow  progress,  ascend  some  seething  rapid ;  one 
time  the  centre  of  the  stream  only  is  navigable,  the  next 
moment  the  brush  and  branches  on  the  margin  grate  against 
your  craCt's  gunwale.  A  solemn  sti'ness  reigns  around, 
only  broken  by  the  murmuring  of  the  water,  the  occasional 
shrill  cry  of  the  fish-hawk,  or  the  laborious,  incessant  ham- 
mering of  the  industrious  woodpecker.  Again,  as  you  ad- 
vance, many  a  wild  duck  or  merganser,  on  rapid  wing,  will 
whistle  past,  or  flutter  over  the  riipling  stream,  followed 
by  a  numerous,  inoffensive  brood,  perhaps  but  the  other 
day  divested  of  the  egg-shell,  yet  thus  early  a  proficient 
in  aquatic  travel — all  adding  peace  to  the  scene,  and  suit- 
able figures  for  foreground  to  the  picture. 

From  this  point,  where  you  leave  the  boats,  a  portage  of 
four  miles  occurs,  which  has  to  be  traversed  on  foot ;  how- 
ever, the  walking  is  not  bad,  although  too  rough  for  driv- 
ing. The  path  is  well  defined  and  erratic,  one  moment 
pointing  direct  for  the  impenetrable  woods,  the  next  fol- 
lowing the  margin  of  the  river.  Some  persons  have  chris- 
tened this  portion  of  the  Androscoggin  "  Mad  River,"  a 
name  far  from  inappropriate,  as  for  more  than  a  mile  it  is 
one  succession  of  grand  rapids  and  miniature  cascades,  boil- 
ing, surging,  and  rushing  for  the  placid  bosom  of  Lake  Um- 
bagog.  Good  fly-fishing  can  be  obtained  at  low  water  all 
along  this  portion  close  to  the  margin,  where  the  water 


330 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


forms  many  miniature  eddies;  but  woe  betide  your  tackle 
if  you  sliould  cliance  to  hook  a  heavy  fish  whose  gallant 
spirit  dictates  a  rush  for  the  turbid  centre  waters  !  No 
rod  or  line  on  earth  could  possibly  hold,  and  the  shores  are 
too  rough  for  the  angler  to  follow  downward. 


RIVEU   SCENE. 


It  will  be  well  to  have  a  gun  with  you  in  taking  the 
tramp  across  this  portage.  The  first  time  we  traversed  it 
we  saw  a  young  bear,  and  the  last  time  one  of  our  party 
came  in  such  close  contact  with  an  old  lady  Bruin  as  to  be 
frightened  almost  to  death,  if  it  is  admissible  to  judge  from 
his  appearance  rather  than  fi'om  his  description. 

Having  progressed  a  little  over  half  the  distance,  a  pret- 
ty fishing-shanty,  the  property  of  a  Bostonian,  most  oppor- 
tunely offers  itself  as  a  resting-place,  while  the  panorama 
from  its  porch  fairly  earns  the  eulogy  of  sublimity.  Above, 
below,  and  in  front  seethes  the  precipitous  river,  white  with 
foam,  while  in  the  distance  the  placid  surface  of  a  minia- 


THE  rOND. 


337 


"i 


ture  lake,  unpoetically  dubbed  "  the  Pond,"  recalls  to  mem- 
ory the  stories  of  our  childhood,  in  which  naiads  and 
nymphs,  with  the  enchanting  Lurline  for  their  sovereign, 
prominently  figure. 

The  Pond,  at  some  seasons,  affords  splendid  sport,  espe- 
cially at  the  entrance  and  exit  of  the  river,  which  flows 
through  it,  but  it  can  not  be  fished  except  from  a  boat, 
which  can  be  brought  down,  if  desired,  from  the  dam 
above — no  easy  task  to  be  performed,  but  frequently  ac- 
complished by  the  expert  lumbermen,  who  appear  equally 
at  home  in  handling  the  axe  or  shooting  rapids  in  their 
flat- bottomed  punts. 

Having  rested  sufficiently  to  recruit,  and  probably  im- 
bibed a  small  glass  of  something  stimulating,  diluted  with 
water  that  trickles  from  a  neighboring  spring — which  is 
always  cold  as  ice,  however  warm  the  weather  may  be — as 
scarcely  more  than  a  couple  of  miles  are  before  us,  we  may 
just  as  well  hurry  on.  The  walk  now  leaves  the  river,  and 
becomes  much  more  hilly  and  inclosed ;  one  time  crossing 
a  deep  boggy  ravine,  the  next  threading  its  erratic  course 
along  the  summit  of  some  stony  hill-side.  The  timber  here 
is  very  beautiful,  much  superior  to  what  we  have  formerly 
met,  and  the  graceful  silver -birch  prevails — a  tree  than 
which  no  prettier  or  more  beautiful  exists.  Although  the 
road  in  some  places  must  be  quite  half  a  mile  from  the 
water,  still  the  deep  rumbling  of  the  numerous  rapids  is 
distinctly  audible,  the  neighboring  portion  of  the  Andros- 
coggin River  being  wild  and  broken  in  the  extreme. 

We  have  scarcely  ever  threaded  this  part  of  our  jour- 
ney without  seeing  ruffed  grouse,  and  frequently  Canada 
grouse,  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  the  indigenous  birds, 
and  resembling  more  closely  than  any  of  the  American 
family  the  red  grouse  of  Scotland;  the  deep  scarlet  iris, 
the  rich,  dark  chestnut  coloring  of  both  are  similar ;  but 

15 


I 


338 


rHAIBIE  AND  FOREST. 


they  are  totally  opposed  to  one  another  in  habits  of  life, 
the  one  preferring  the  open,  heather  -  covered  mountain 
slopes — wild  as  a  hawk,  unless  when  engaged  with  family 
cares — the  other,  thoughtless  and  careless  of  danger,  and 
never  seen  away  from  the  densest  retreats  of  the  woods. 
So  tame  are  the  Canada  grouse  that,  during  my  residence 
in  Maine,  I  knew  one  of  the  hotel  proprietor's  sons  to  catch 
an  old  cock-bird  by  slipping  a  noose  attached  to  the  end 
of  a  stick  over  its  head.  But  our  promenade  is  near  an 
end.  The  woods  appear  less  dense  as  we  advance,  and 
soon  the  flag  that  floats  over  the  shanty  which  is  to  be  our 
future  dormitory  appears  in  view,  with  the  placid  waters 
of  Richardson  Lake  close  by,  while  numerous  irregular 
hills,  all  clothed  with  pine  timber  to  the  summit,  form  the 
background. 

Generally  this  beautiful  lake  is  smooth  as  glass,  without 
a  ripple,  excepting  what  may  be  caused  by  the  break  of 
fish,  or  sudden  appearance  or  descent  of  the  great  Northern 
diver,  whose  wild,  weird  notes  have  not  un  frequently  star- 
tled the  uninitiated,  brought  a  cold  shiver  to  their  system, 
or  vividly  recalled  stories  of  ghosts,  sprites,  panthers,  and 
wild-cats.  You  are  at  last  fairly  in  the  wilds,  miles  from 
man's  habitation — if  you  except  a  couple  of  fishing  shanties 
only  occupied  a  few  weeks  yearly.  You  may  strain  your 
eyes  up  and  down,  no  snow-white  smiling  cottage  will  greet 
your  vision.  This  country  is  the  same  still  as  in  the  days 
when  the  red  man  knew  no  superior,  and  owned  every  inch 
of  soil  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific,  save  it  be  that  the 
cruel  axe  of  the  lumberman  has  culled  out  the  choicest 
giant  monarchs  of  the  forest.  But  having  done  a  pretty 
good  day's  walking,  we  may  as  well  lay  up  for  an  hour  or 
so  before  making  our  debut  on  the  Androscoggin;  more- 
over, the  trout  in  the  middle  of  the  day  do  not  rise  so  freely, 
and  a  couple  of  hours'  woi-k  in  the  evening,  if  the  weather 


! 


'v»  ■  •  -»:«ri»»ra' 


m 


3'^P 


ij:j 


babits  of  life, 
'ovtu-ed  mountain 

v(i  with  family 

danger,  and 

:it8  ol:  the  woods. 

ving  njy  residence 

'a  sons  to  catch 


>  (otallj'  O[)j)osed  to  one  awe: 

preferring   the  open,  hv 

l.fiwlc,  unl•'!?^'  \vl 

»iher,  thoughtle> 

seen  away  froii  i   : 

JSo  tame  are  the  Canad.i 

in  Maine,  I  knew  of»e  ^ 

:m  old  cock-bird  h  .:  »  tanjt-xi  aitiM!he<l  to  tlie  end 

of  a  stick  over  its  hcati.     liut  our  promenade  is  near  an 

enu.      The  woods  appear  less  dense  as  we  advance,  and 

soon  the  Hag  that  tlc-.ts  over  the  shanty  which  is  to  lao  our 

tuture  dormitory  appc^ars  in  view,  with  the  placid  waters 

of   Richardson   Lake  close  by,  while ■  nnm  irregidar 

•  iwbertothe  suaHUii,  form  the 

inn  ■ 

(xt;ji«imlly  tiaf>  Ut-autiial  lake  is  smooth  at»  g'  lh<>ut 

Oieak  of 
N'^orthern 
■  tivcr.whj.se  wiiu,  wcii«i  nouja  U4»v*i  no!  unfrcqr.ontly  star- 
tled the  uninitiated,  br^  ight  a  cold  shiver  to  their  system, 
or  vividly  recalled  storios  of  ghosts,  sprites,  panthers,  and 
wild-cats.  You.  ai'e  at  hist  fairlv  in  the  wilds,  miles  from 
man's  h;ibitatior.       '  »  ou  except  a  couple  of  tishing  shanties 

eeks  yearly.     You  may  stiain  your 

- W'wKit  'ifkiif  cottaga  will  greet 

0  stUl  a8  in  the  days 

uid  owned  every  inch 

I'lc,  save  it  be  that  the 

Tiled  out  the  choi(^e8t 

M   having  done  a  pretty 


onl'.   ■M>:i.   '   ■' 
eyes  up  and 
your  vision, 
when  the  re<l  iu.> 
of  soil  from  - 
cruel  axe   oi    .jt 
giant  monarch s  of  ' 
i^ood  day's  walkiug,  v- 
NO  before  makir"  '  • 
ovoi,  the  trout  i:.     .-, 
.umI  "  <'0'(ple  '  r  ':■>"•> 


U  hry  tip  for  an  hour  or 

Androscoggin;   moro- 

.i.'.y  do  not  rise  so  freely, 


,1... 


•  •'\'f 'l'"T";" 


=  f  Tl 


)(•   '<■ 


3-     , 

i 


PICTURESQUE  SCENERY. 


341 


is  propitious,  will  afford  as  many  fish  and  as  much  sport  as 
the  most  exacting  can  possibly  desire. 

In  the  spring  the  best  fishing  is  to  be  obtained  under- 
neath the  dam,  which  is  built  across  the  river  a  few  hun- 
dred yards  below  where  it  debouches  from  the  lake,  and 
formed  for  the  purpose  of  gathering  a  good  head  of  water 
to  assist  in  shooting  the  lumbermen's  logs.  In  autumn, 
however,  it  is  the  reverse,  for  above  the  dam  the  great- 
est numbers  and  the  heaviest  fish  are  found.  Why  trout 
should  at  the  various  seasons  select  different  resorts,  is 
still  a  matter  of  surmise ;  our  opinion  is,  that  in  summer 
all  that  are  able  leave  the  river  and  betake  themselves  to 
the  locality  of  the  springs  in  the  bottom  of  the  lake,  or  lie 
down  in  such  deep  water  as  has  not  been  rendered  tepid 
by  the  rays  of  the  sun ;  but  as  the  season  adviinces,  and  be- 
comes proportionably  cool,  the  fish  retake  themselves  to  the 
streams,  either  for  the  purpose  of  spawning,  or  because  the 
rapid  water  is  a  more  suitable  residence  during  the  severi- 
ty of  a  No^tfoern  winter.  This  migration,  if  such  it  may  be 
called,  has 'a  great  resemblance  to  the  movements  of  sal- 
mon, except  that  the  latter  have  the  choice  of  the  ocean  in- 
atead  of  the  land-locked  lakes.  Thus  our  readers  will  see 
that  midsummer  is  not  the  season  to  visit  this  picturesque 
neighborhood,  even  were  the  flies  and  mosquitoes  less  nu- 
merous ;  but  even  if  the  sport  was  then  to  be  enjoyed  to 
perfection,  their  assaults  would  render  the  fascinating  pleas- 
ure of  fly-fishing  a  perfect  labor. 

Turning  from  the  house,  a  footpath,  sufliciently  clear  to 
permit  you  to  carry  your  rod  ready  for  work,  leads  off  to 
the  right,  and  soon  you  reach  the  river,  tumbling  with  a 
headlong,  impetuous  rush  through  several  flood-gates  and 
a  shoot.*     The  river  above  and  below  the  fall  is  lovely,  yet 

*  A  smooth  inclino,  down  which  the  logs  aro  floated. 


l!    ) 


342 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


n. 


almost  the  opposite  in  effect.  Looking  toward  the  lake 
the  water  is  placid  and  calm,  with  islands  and  bays,  cov- 
ered or  sheltered  with  trees,  reposing  in  quiet  peace,  while 
beneath  the  fall,  from  the  effects  of  the  descent,  a  broad 
course  of  white  foam-water  rushing  with  headlong  speed, 
first  striking  one  margin,  then  ricochetting  toward  the  oth- 
er— now  divided  by  abrupt  rocks  of  irregular  outline,  or 


M 


lllE   WILDS. 


swaying  round  in  real  whirlpools — descends  on  its  uncon- 
trollable route.  The  best  stand  to  fish  from  for  those  who 
object  to  wet  feet  is  a  rook  about  the  size  of  a  wagon,  thir- 
ty or  forty  yards  beneath  the  falls,  on  the  right-hand  side. 
From  this  place  a  person  may  work  for  hours  with  constant 
success.  However,  if  the  visitor  be  of  an  adventurous  dis- 
position, and  fears  not  to  wade,  the  opposite  shore  is  well 
worthy  of  attention ;  but  as  the  bottom  is  extremely  rough 


TROUT  AND  SALMON  FIUHINO. 


343 


,M 


and  irregular,  and  in  some  parts  the  current  very  strong, 
care  must  be  taken  not  to  make  a  false  step  or  stumble, 
as  fatal  results  might  be  the  consequence.  I  should  advise 
the  constant  use  of  the  handle  of  your  landing-net  to  feel 
and  guide  your  steps,  on  no  account  permitting  the  excite- 
ment of  hooking  a  large  fish  to  make  you  lose  your  head. 

A  couple  of  liundred  yards  beneath  the  dam  is  a  splendid 
pool,  difficJilt  to  fish  and  difficult  of  access,  but  a  trial  will 
be  amply  rewarded.  Scarcely  in  the  memory  of  a  long 
fishing  career  have  we  ever  enjoyed  such  a  couple  of  hours' 
sport  as  fell  to  our  luck  the  first  time  we  wetted  a  line 
upon  its  well-stocked  surface.  On  the  first  cast  not  one 
but  half  a  dozen  of  the  spotted  beauties  rushed  to  the  sur- 
face, so  that  we  were  ultimately  compelled  to  reduce  the 
number  of  flies  we  were  using  to  a  solitary  specimen.  For 
two  hours  we  confined  ourselves  to  this  pool,  with  the  sim- 
ple change  of  altering  situation  or  cast,  and  even  then  only 
desisted,  not  from  want  of  fish  but  for  fear  the  constant 
strain  would  wear  out  the  rod.  On.  this  occasion  the  re- 
sults were  nearly  four  dozen,  and  none  under  half  a  pound, 
many  reaching  as  high  as  three  and  even  three  and  a  half. 
The  guide,  whom  I  have  previously  mentioned,  was  my 
companion,  and  most  satisfactorily  he  did  his  work,  al- 
though on  many  occasions  he  was  compelled  to  wade  up 
to  his  middle ;  in  fact,  I  ne\^er  met  a  more  obliging  person, 
or  one  more  fearless  in  entering  water,  or  better  skilled  in 
handling  a  landing-net. 

Another  day's  sport  I  will  quote  more  minutely,  as  an- 
other part  of  the  river  was  the  scene  of  operations.  With- 
in an  hour  and  a  half  I  had  killed  eleven  fish,  averaging  two 
and  a  quarter  pounds,  when  suddenly  they  stopped  rising, 
and  all  my  skill  was  wasted,  for  I  could  not  raise  a  fin. 
This  striking  peculiarity  in  both  trout  and  salmon  fish- 
ing, which  no  fisherman  can  fail  to  have  observed,  I  am  un- 


I 


844 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


i 


i    1 


S "  'If 


.3Ef 


able  to  account  for.  That  all  the  inhabitants  of  a  portion 
of  a  stream  should  desist  to  feed  instantaneously,  when  a 
few  minutes  previously  they  have  been  seizing  with  avidity 
your  flies,  is  the  subject  on  which  I  should  like  to  hear 
the  opinion  of  some  competent  authority.  I  remember 
asking  an  old  hand,  whose  success  in  his  neighborhood 
was  a  household  world,  and  his  response  was  that  a  sudden 
change  in  the  atmosphere  caused  it.  This  answer  some- 
what astonished  me,  nor  could  I  reconcile  myself  to  the 
idea  that  fish  which,  in  the  majority  of  instances,  lie  some 
distance  beneath  the  surface  of  the  water,  should  be  cogni- 
zant of  an  alteration  which  is  imperceptible  to  us. 

From  continued  want  of  success,  I  changed  my  position, 
and  removed  to  a  hole  some  way  farther  down.  After 
much  difficulty,  from  the  quantity  of  brush  that  grew  on 
the  margin  of  the  stream,  and  carrying  a  rod  among  such 
obstacles,  I  reached  the  water.  The  appearance  of  the 
pool  much  pleased  me,  but  it  was  difficult  to  fish,  from  the 
timber  growing  so  close  to  the  water,  and  wading  being  al- 
most out  of  the  question,  from  the  rough  and  irregular  bot- 
tom being  thickly  packed  with  large  boulders.  Obliged  to 
make  a  virtue  of  necessity,  with  a  short  line,  and  a  quick, 
contracted  cast,  I  commenced  operations.  My  companion 
informed  me  that  he  very  much  doubted  if  a  line  had  been 
wet  there  that  season ;  from  the  result,  I  think  his  state- 
ment must  have  boon  correct.  Scarcely  had  my  flies 
touched  the  water,  when  two  beauties,  radiant  in  their 
handsome  golden  hues,  simultaneously  dashed  at  the  de- 
ception ;  one  I  hooked  firm  and  strong,  and  soon  brought 
to  net :  a  dozen  times  did  I  go  through  the  same  perform- 
ance, only  varied  by  occasionally  hooking  a  brace  at  the 
same  cast.  I  feared,  with  such  incessant  work,  my  perfect 
little  rod  would  get  strained,  but  I  was  disinclined  to  give 
up.     Having  once  filled  my  large  basket,  and  being  in  a 


AN  ADVENTURE. 


345 


fair  way  to  repeat  the  performance,  I  moved  forty  yards 
lower  down  toward  the  tail  of  the  stream,  where,  from  the 
placid  appearance  of  the  surface,  I  had  little  doubt  I  could 
wade.  With  the  assistance  of  the  pole  of  my  landing-net, 
I  succeeded  in  staggering  otit  to  a  shoal  bank  of  gravel, 
about  ten  yards  from  the  brink,  and  although  quite  up  to 
the  knee,  established  a  firm  footing ;  and  each  cast  rose  or 
hooked  a  fish.  The  water  appeared  to  be  alive  with  trout ; 
first  one  would  spring  several  feet  clear  of  the  water  with 
a  vim  and  energy  positively  speaking  of  determination; 
another  would  only  barely  come  to  the  surface,  leaving  no 
other  indication  of  his  presence  than  a  miniature  whirlpool ; 
while  a  third  would  roll  over  like  a  grampus,  displaying  a 
good  view  of  his  golden,  strongly  proportioned,  handsome 
side,  raising  the  demon  of  covetousness  in  my  breast.  I 
have  frequently  sought  for  a  satisfactory  reason  for  the 
different  degrees  of  ardor  which  fish  exhibit  in  taking  the 
fly.  I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  much  is  to  be  attributed 
to  caprice,  and  not  hunger,  for  it  is  very  rare  to  see  a  heavy 
fish  entirely  disengage  himself  from  the  water  when  about 
to  seize  the  cunningly-devised  imitation. 

Several  fine  fish  had  fallen  to  my  prowess,  and  step  by 
step,  with  cautious  care,  I  advanced  down  the  river,  till  I 
had  almost  got  within  casting  distance  of  the  bottom  of 
the  pool,  where  the  stream  was  contracted  previous  to 
forming  another  rapid. 

In  taking  my  last  throw,  I  was  so  near  the  broken  wa- 
ter that  my  trail-fly  was  without  doubt  in  it,  when,  without 
seeing  a  fish,  I  felt  a  smart  pluck  at  my  line.  On  elevating 
the  top  of  my  rod,  I  found  that  a  small  chub  had  taken 
my  hook.  Reeling  up  to  get  rid  of  the  incumbrance,  and 
fetching  him  to  the  surface,  what  was  ray  surprise  to  see  an 
immense  trout  dash  at  the  unfortunate  captive,  and  in  the 
twinkling  of  an  eye  I  had  my  reel  going  at  telegraph  speed. 

15* 


:■!' 


" 


346 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


I  :. 


Here  was  an  adventure  truly,  but  one  out  of  which  I  could 
scarcely  expect  success.  Iluiining  out  something  like  fif- 
teen yards,  the  interloper  became  stationary,  and  well  I 
knew  he  had  returned  to  his  sanctum,  probably  to  pouch 
the  bait  at  phjasure.  "With  but  a  slight  strain  upon  my 
rod,  t  waited  on  the  will  of  his  mightiness,  hoping  it  would 
not  be  long  ere  his  royal  pleasure  would  dictate  swallowing 
the  booty.  Ten  minutes,  at  least,  I  remained  in  statu  quo^ 
when,  supposing  due  courtesy  had  been  extended,  I  took  a 
slight  pull,  just  by  way  of  reminder.  Alas  !  the  chub  came 
away,  and,  being  now  dead,  combined  with  the  rapidity  of 
the  water,  trailed  upon  the  surface.  I  was  not  disappoint- 
ed— the  result  was  but  probable.  Commencing  to  reel  up 
to  divest  my  hook  of  the  mangled  carcass,  I  had  not  more 
than  taken  a  few  feet  in  when,  mirahile  dictu,  the  same  ep- 
isode was  enacted,  and  the  unfortunate  disfigured  remains 
of  the  shiner  were  borne  o£F,  apparently  to  the  same  loca- 
tion. Patiently  now  I  determined  to  rest,  hoping  against 
chance  that,  in  sportive  mood,  while  playing  with  his  in- 
tended dejeuner,  his  highness  would  get  the  point  of  the  in- 
sidious hook  attached  to  his  royal  person. 

What  time  elapsed  I  know  not,  but  my  necessary  inert- 
ness and  the  disagreeableness  of  my  position  induced  me  to 
endeavor  to  bring  the  drama  to  a  finish.  With  a  gentle 
strain  I  evoked  a  succession  of  rapid,  quick  jerks,  admon- 
ishing me  that  I  had  a  gentleman  of  short  temper  to  deal 
with.  Gradually  I  continued  shortening  my  line,  which, 
although  an  unusual  proceeding  thus  early,  I  succeeded  in 
doing  without  the  least  hinderance.  Still  the  dead  strain 
that  existed  proclaimed  that  no  ordinary  contestant  was  at 
the  other  end.  In  all  my  previous  experience  I  had  never 
seen  a  fish  come  without  an  effort  almost  up  to  my  hand, 
without  once  making  a  rush  or  giving  a  chance  to  judge 
of  his  paces.     By  this  time  nearly  all  my  line  was  in,  and 


ADVENTURE  WITH  A  TROUT. 


347 


the  trout  coukl  not  have  been  over  fourteen  or  fifteen  feet 
from  me,  but  down  in  deep  water,  moving  slowly  in  rings 
of  a  foot  or  two  in  diameter. 

Whatever  some  persons  might  have  done,  I  did  not  ex- 
actly like  bivouacking  in  two  feet  of  rapid  stream,  with  a 
very  precarious  footing,  and  a  cloud  of  mosquitoes  singing 
either  a  requiem  or  a  lullaby  about  my  unprotected  face. 
My  patience  exhausted,  I  inwardly  made  up  my  mind,  let 
the  results  be  what  they  would,  ihat  I  would  force  the  giant 
to  declare  himself.  Gradually  raising  the  point  of  my  rod 
inch  by  inch,  with  a  steady  motion,  to  my  astonishment  I 
brought  him  to  the  surface,  giving  me  a  good  view  of  his 
massive  fprm.  The  chub  was  across  his  mouth,  as  a  spaniel 
would  carry  a  stick,  and  devil  a  hook  had  touched  him ! 
Worse  than  all,  it  was  apparent,  from  the  constant  strain, 
that  my  hold  of  the  impromptu  bait  was  nearly  at  an  end. 
Beiijg  humbugged  and  victimized  is  at  all  times  disagree- 
able, and  as  the  laugh  was  decidedly  against  me,  with  a 
sharp  jerk  I  disengaged  my  flies,  anathematizing  the  brute 
which  had  caused  me  so  much  trouble,  and  sincerely  hoped 
his  breakfast  would  disagree  with  him.  With  a  flourish  of 
the  tail,  my  tormentor  bid  me  good-morning,  and  I  return- 
ed to  the  shore  in  far  from  an  enviable  frame  of  mind.  On 
my  way  to  the  shanty  for  my  morning  meal  I  scarcely  spoke 
a  word,  no  doubt  moralizing  on  the  uncertainty  of  all  world- 
ly afi'airs ;  but  just  as  I  was  entering  the  domicile,  with  feel- 
ings of  dire  revenge  I  told  my  attendant  not  to  say  a  sin- 
gle word  on  the  subject,  for  that  I  had  a  plan  in  tny  head 
by  which  I  trusted  to  wipe  off  all  old  scores.  With  vin- 
dictive feeling  I  munched  my  food  in  silence,  avenging  ray- 
self  on  the  finny  tribe  by  the  qua  'jty  of  fish  I  put  under 
my  belt,  and  only  did  I  bpgin  to  feel  in  a  placid  frame  of 
mind  after  I  had  smoked  an  inch  of  my  morning  cigar. 
Tobacco  —divine  tobacco!  how  much  does  irascible  man 


I    ' 


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I 


w 


~fi^  - 


348 


rUAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


owe  yon  !  Companion  in  our  solitude,  amuser  in  our  idle- 
ness, and  soother  in  our  troubles,  what  happy  fancies  and 
castles  in  the  air  can  we  build  while  watching  thy  smoke 
curling  gracefully  toward  the  azure  heavens  or  dingy  roof- 
tree  !  What  hen-pecked  husband  has  not  enjoyed  your 
soothing  influence  when  he  has  escaped  to  the  safety  of 
his  sanctum  ?  The  lords  of  creation  owe  much  to  the  taste 
and  good  sense  of  Sir  Walter  Raleigh,  the  ladies  little — un- 
doubtedly the  reason  that  he  lives  less  vividly  in  our  mem- 
ories than  his  deserts. 

About  an  hour  before  sunset  I  returned  to  the  field  of 
action,  armed,  however,  with  a  strong  bait-rod  and  a  bait- 
kettle  filled  with  well-selected  minnows  and  chubs*  AVith  a 
determination  equal  to  the  undertaking  of  the  most  ardu- 
ous and  hazardous  enterprise,  I  mounted  a  minnow-tackle 
(don't  turn  away,  gentle  fisherman,  to  hide  your  blushes ; 
any  apologies  which  are  due  I  freely  tender ;  remember  the 
aggravation  I  had  suffered),  and  boldly  stalked  into  the 
water  a  short  way  above  where  my  tormentor  domiciled. 
In  working  my  way  down,  I  killed  several  of  the  smaller 
gentry,  but  with  these  I  dealt  most  cavalierly,  they  being 
far  beneath  my  present  ambition.  At  length  I  reached  the 
very  stone  on  which  I  stood  in  the  morning,  and  with  nerv- 
ous, anxious  eye  I  made  my  cast.  Slowly  the  bait  swung 
round,  and  described  an  arc  of  a  circle  to  the  charmed 
spot.  A  rush,  a  dash  and  a  splash,  and  away  flew  my 
line,  the  reel  discoursing  sweetest  melody  (perhaps  not 
sweetest,  for  the  music  of  the  deep-mouthed  pack  deserves 
the  superlative  degree),  and  I  had  my  gallant  tormentor 
fast.  Every  effort  that  ever  was  successfully  perpetrated 
by  fish  was  put  in  play.  Down  and  up  the  stream  he  fi'an- 
tically  rushed ;  first  to  one  side,  then  the  other,  but  all  with- 
out avail.  Ten  minutes  of  these  futile  efforts  told  a  tale, 
and  the  shortened  and  less  vigorous  exertions  proclaimed 


MOSQUITOES. 


349 


an  early  approach  to  the  finish.  Carefully  I  backed  out, 
step  by  step,  feeling  cautiously  the  inequalities  of  the 
ground,  till  I  stood  on  terra  firma.  My  attendant  per 
mitted  excitement  to  cause  him  to  act  too  precipitously, 
and  the  splash  of  the  net  instilled  fresh  vigor  into  my  vic- 
tim's now  exhausted  frame.  Game  to  the  last,  another  ef- 
fort was  made  for  life,  and  with  an  impetuous  rush  he  again 
started  for  his  time-honored,  watery  haunts.  With  a  nerv- 
ous grasp  on  ray  rod,  I  was  prepared  to  give  him  line ;  but 
imagine  my  astonishment  when  the  slack  returned  to  my 
hand,  minus  hooks  and  leader !  The  swivel  had  parted — 
one  I  had  actually  purchased  in  the  Strand,  London — and, 
with  a  rueful  countenance,  I  stood  the  picture  of  despera- 
tion. I  doubt  if  the  physiognomy  of  Marius  over  the  ruins 
of  Carthage  could  have  looked  more  doleful.  On  my  way 
home,  talking  the  matter  over  with  my  Jidus  Achates^  we 
agreed  upon  the  verdict  of  "  served  me  right,"  for  attempt- 
ing to  immolate  so  noble  a  victim  in  such  an  ignoble  man- 
ner ;  and  doubly  was  I  convinced  of  the  time-honored  French 
adage,  "  L'homme  propose  et  Dieu  dispose." 

But  let  not  the  enthusiast  run  away  with  the  idea  that 
in  Maine  there  are  no  drawbacks  to  pleasure,  that  sport  is 
found  without  an  alloy,  for  the  pests  of  every  new  land  here 
swarm  —  black  flies,  mosquitoes,  and  sand-flies;  but  fortu- 
nately their  reign  of  terror  does  not  exist  over  six  weeks. 
The  first  (the  black  fly),  which  is  about  the  size  of  a  small 
house-fly,  and  not  dissimilar  in  appearance,  is  a  perfect  can- 
nibal, refusing  to  be  driven  away,  willingly  immolating  him- 
self in  his  thirst  for  blood,  and  drawing  blood  whenever  he 
can  obtain  a  footing :  up  your  trowsers,  down  your  shirt- 
sleeves or  collar,  everywhere  he  will  get  at  his  victim.  Kill 
them  by  thousands,  the  phalanxes,  apparently  undiminish- 
ed, will  return  to  the  attack ;  and  even  domestic  animals  do 
not  escape.     The  unfortunate  cow  that  had  been  driven  up 


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350 


PMAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


to  supply  us  with  milk  I  have  seen  changed  from  a  straw- 
berry to  a  black  by  the  myriads  of  these  vampires  that 
clung  to  her ;  and,  but  that  we  lit  a  large  smudge*  for  her 
to  stand  over,  I  believe  the  poor  old  creature  would  have 
died  under  the  incessant  torture  and  irritation.  But  if 
the  poor  cow  suffered,  so  did  we,  and  it  was  only  by  con- 
stantly lubricating  the  exposed  parts  of  our  persons  with 
oil  of  tar,  or  oil  of  pennyroyal,  that  we  were  enabled  to 
stand  the  ordeal.  Fortunately,  the  black  fly  is  hungry 
during  daylight  only;  like  a  respectable  citizen,  he  early 
goes  to  rest,  and  equally  early  recommences  business. 

Next  come  the  mosquitoes.  I  have  found  the  same  gen- 
try troublesome  in  the  Mediterranean,  bad  on  the  Malay 
peninsula,  worse  in  the  paddy-fields  of  China ;  but  all  these 
lack  the  acuteness  and  insolence  of  their  Yankee  cousins. 
If  your  hand  is  bare  for  a  moment,  a  dozen  will  be  on  it ; 
when  up  to  your  knees  in  a  pool,  and  fast  in  a  big  fish,  both 
hands  consequently  employed,  your  face  and  the  back  of 
your  neck  will  begin  to  itch — to  burn — as  if  scalding  water 
had  been  poured  over  them.  Nor  were  the  sand-flies  de- 
serving of  better  character,  for  though  so  small  that  you 
can  scarcely  perceive  them,  their  powers  of  annoyance  are 
tremendous.f  Thank  Providence  that  none  of  these  wretch- 
es are  made  as  big  as  theferoe  naturae^  or  else  genus  Jiomo 
must  soon  become  extinct. 

I  will  here  tell  a  little  circumstance  that  befell  me.  I 
and  two  acquaintances  were  fishing  under  a  fall ;  fish  were 
abundant,  but  space,  on  account  of  the  trees,  too  limited 
for  so  many  rods ;  so  down  the  stream  I  started,  and  for- 
got, in  my  desire  to  beat  the  others  in  results,  the  odious 


*  Decayed  damp  wood,  which  burns  slowly,  and  emits  a  great  quantity 
of  smoke. 

+  Called  by  the  Indians  *•  No-see-ums,"  from  their  minuteness. 


TORMENTED  BY  BLACK  PLIES.  351 

preparation  of  oil  of  tar.  After  haflf  an  hour's  scrambling 
through  brush  and  climbing  over  rocks,  I  at  length  reach- 
ed such  a  lovely  pool.  The  first  cast  showed  it  to  be  alive 
with  fish,  and  they  in  the  proper  way  of  thinking.  Soon 
the  gravel  margin  had  over  a  dozen  beauties  glittering  in 
all  their  glorious  coloring ;  but  the  sun  was  near  the  hori- 
zon, and  my  attendant  warned  me  that  time  was  up.  On 
joining  my  friends,  long  and  vociferous  were  their  peals  of 
laughter  whenever  they  looked  at  me.  What  the  deuce 
was  up  ?  On  arrival  at  the  shanty  all  was  explained.  The 
black  flies  had  attacked  me  when  so  immersed  in  my  sport, 
that  they  had  been  unnoticed  or  brushed  off,  making  my 
countenance  the  most  extraordinary-looking  mess  of  blood 
•and  bruised  flies  imaginable;  but  if  I  did  not  then  feel  the 
pain,  you  may  bet  I  did  that  night  when  warm  in  bed. 

Knowing  that  such  torments  exist,  why  did  the  writer 
go  there  ?  is  naturally  asked,  and  as  simply  answered,  for 
before  he  started  he  was  assured  that  not  even  a  mosquito 
was  to  be  found  in  Maine.  Afterward  it  was  discovered 
that  the  visit  of  h'is  informant  had  been  paid  to  this  ulti- 
ma thule  late  in  autumn.  A  dozen  times  conclusions  were 
come  to  of  sloping  (not  for  Texas)  in  the  morning;  but 
the  attradtions  were  so  great  that  even  the  entire  summer, 
even  on  to  the  end  of  October,  was  got  through,  the  last 
two  or  three  months  so  delightfully  that  the  self-sacrifice 
endured  in  June  and  July  was  more  than  compensated  for ; 
and  never  can  be  forgotten  the  beautiful  weather,  glorious 
sport,  and  free,  independent  life  enjoyed.  The  State  of 
Maine  being  of  considerably  larger  proportions  than  En- 
gland and  Scotland  together,  it  is  desirable  that  the  partic- 
ular locality  should  be  mentioned.  Seventy  miles  from  the 
thriving  sea-port  of  Portland,  along  the  Grand  Trunk  line 
of  railroad,  will  be  found  on  the  map  the  picturesque,  clean, 
flourishing  village  of  Bethel ;  twenty-seven  miles  north  from 


352 


PRAIEIE  AND  FOREST. 


it,  Lake  Umbagog.  H^re  you  have  t^'o  last  settlement,  and 
by  following  up  the  Androscoggin  Ri  u*,  which  enters  the 
top  of  the  last-mentioned  lake,  you  get  into  a  perfect  lab- 
yrinth of  lakes  and  ponds,  united  together  by  brawling 
streams,  only  navigable  by  the  lumberman's  flat  or  Indian's 
birch-back.  On  all  sides  precipitous  mountains  rise,  cov- 
ered with  pine-trees  where  there  is  a  possibility  of  their 
clinging,  or  immense  boulders,  to  all  appearance  ready  to 
roll  from  their  resting-place  into  the  waters  beneath.  And 
here  in  this  vast  solitude,  free  from  cares,  we  made  our 
home ;  fishing  or  hunting  by  day,  and  sleeping  such  sleep 
upon  piles  of  hemlock  as  seldom  is  enjoyed  on  feather-beds 
(that  is,  at  the  end  of  the  fly  season) ;  for  though  the  bears 
might  growl  around,  the  gray  wolf  give  us  a  proof  of  his  • 
vocal  powers,  or  the  weird  note  of  the  loon  come  shrilly 
over  the  waters,  still  all  formed  but  a  lullaby  to  make  us 
rest  the  better. 

In  fishing  the  rivers  of  all  the  wild  lands  of  the  extreme 
northern  portion  of  the  United  States  and  the  Dominion 
for  trout  or  salmon,  little  or  no  sport  will  be  experienced 
by  the  angler  until  the  snow-water  has  run  off ;  in  fact,  I 
do  not  believe  the  latter  fish  will  enter  a  river  that  has  not 
got  rid  of  that  addition.  We  got  to  our  fishing- ground 
just  at  the  desired  time;  a  guide  we  consulted  said  we 
were  too  soon.  It  being  better  to  be  early  than  late,  we 
pushed  at  once  for  our  first  halting-place,  and  the  result 
was  that  we  hit  things  so  nicely  that  we  struck  the  open- 
ing day.  For  about  two  or  three  weeks  the  take  was  very 
great,  and  the  variety  of  coloring  among  our  prizes  some- 
thing wonderful.  A  collecting  naturalist,  a  pupil  of  the 
celebrated  professor  of  natural  history  at  Yale  College, 
Cambridge,  Massachusetts,  joined  our  party  a  few  days 
after  our  arrival;  and  all  these  various  colored  fish  were 
designated  by  him  as  Salmo  fontinalis.    With  so  great  an 


HANDSOME  FISH. 


853 


authority  I  did  not  presume  to  differ ;  still,  when  he  in- 
formed me  that  the  Salmo  fontinalis  of  American  waters 
was  identical  with  our  home  brook  -  trout,  I  thought  that 
the  lively  game  little  beauty  of  our  mountain  streams  had 
wonderfully  changed  in  color  and  appearance  from  his  trans- 
atlantic brother,  or  vic^  versa.  As  the  weather  began  to 
get  warmer,  the  more  brilliant -colored  specimens  became 
scarcer,  and  ultimately  ceased  to  be  taken  in  the  river. 
This  circumstance  induced  me  further  to  think  that  there 
was  some  difference  either  in  habits  or  choice  of  haunts 
which  their  more  plain-clothed  relatives  did  not  affect,  and 
that  at  least  there  were  different  varieties,  if  not  species, 
among  the  inhabitants  of  this  stream;  and  the  more  I 
think  the  subject  over  now,  the  more  thoroughly  do  I  feel 
convinced  that  the  name  of  Salmo  fontinalis  has  been  fre- 
quently applied  to  what  is,  in  reality,  our  red-bellied  char. 
Memory  is  often  not  to  be  depended  upon,  but  with  the  as- 
sistance of  a  few  notes  (the  lapse  of  time  not  being  more 
than  a  few  years),  I  will  endeavor  to  tell  the  differences 
that  I  most  particularly  observed.  In  outline  of  shape, 
what  I  suppose  to  be  the  red-bellied  char  much  resembled 
a  well-fed  trout,  except  that  the  first  dorsal  fin  is  nearer  the 
head,  the  caudal  fin  has  a  wider  spread  at  its  termination, 
and  the  junction  of  the  caudal  fin  with  the  body  is  more 
tapered  away.  In  coloring,  the  back  was  of  a  deep  mack- 
erel green,  interwoven  with  irregular  darker  waving  lines, 
while  the  belly  was  as  brilliant  as  burnished  copper.  Above, 
where  the  green  of  the  back  and  red  of  the  stomach  ran 
into  each  other,  there  were  three  lateral  lines  of  large  brill- 
iant red  spots,  interspersed  with  minor  straw-colored  ones, 
and  in  some  specimens  the  anal  and  pectoral  fins  had  the 
first  two  or  three  spines  black.  Altogether,  in  shape  and 
coloring,  a  more  game-looking,  beautiful  fish  can  not  be  im- 
agined; moreover,  their  table  qualities  surpassed  in  deli- 


I 


354 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


cacy  of  flavor  any  fish  I  have  ever  eaten,  for  the  bright  red 
flesh  had  a  delicate  nutty  flavor  indescribable  and,  I  fear, 
scarcely  imaginable.  Our  guide,  who  was  also  cook  and 
master  of  camp,  used  to  fry  in  cream  the  smaller  ones,  and 
I  doubt  if  ever  prince  or  epicure  had  a  dish  placed  before 
him  more  worthy  of  his  palate. 

But  having  given  what  I  know  to  be,  more  particular- 
ly to  the  naturalist,  a  far  from  perfect  description  of  this 
handsome  fish's  peculiarities,  its  habits,  as  differing  from 
the  trout  I  have  known,  may  have  interest.  With  the  arti- 
ficial fly  they  were  not  so  readily  taken  as  with  minnow  or 
worm.  When  hooked,  I  never  knew  them  to  spring  from 
the  water,  and  the  quiet  reach  of  the  pool  was  invariably  a 
more  certain  find  than  the  brawling  neck.  After  sunset  I 
never  could  succeed  in  capturing  them,  and  the  best  hours 
in  the  day  were  from  sunrise  till  it  commenced  to  get  warm, 
and  the  two  hours  preceding  sunset.  After  these  fish  had 
disappeared  from  the  river,  I  discovered  that  they  could  be 
taken  in  the  deep  waters  in  the  lakes,  either  with  minnow 
or  natural  fly,  the  bait  being  sunk  close  to  the  bottom;  and 
the  places  where  I  was  generally  most  successful  in  this  fish- 
ing was  where,  our  guide  affirmed,  were  situated  the  springs 
that  partially  fed  these  lakes ;  his  reason  for  this  statement 
being  that  this  portion  of  the  lake  always  remained  open  in 
winter,  while  the  balance  every  year  froze  up. 

Again,  after  these  fish  had  deserted  the  river,  I  had  some 
admirable  sport  with  them  by  going  to  the  top  of  the  lake, 
and  coming  down  on  the  annual  lumber-raft.  I  was  put 
up  to  this  by  the  guide ;  he  for  years  had  followed  lumber- 
ing, and  the  rafts  as  they  floated  down,  he  assured  me,  were 
always  followed  by  swarms  of  trout.  His  information  was 
correct  as  to  the  numbers  of  fish,  but  instead  of  the  trout 
of  the  river  I  found  my  beautiful,  brilliant-colored  friend. 
This  habit  is  peculiar,  to  say  the  least  of  it,  and  untrout- 


AMERICAN  AUTUMN. 


355 


like,  Jind  I  could  only  account  for  it  in  two  ways,  viz.,  either 
the  shade  afforded  by  these  immense  logs  formed  the  at- 
traction, or  the  constant  immersion  of  the  timber  in  the 
water  caused  the  insect  denizens  of  the  bark  to  be  drowned 
out  of  their  retreats,  and,  dropping  off  in  the  water,  furnish- 
ed these  fish  with  a  favorite  food. 

Summer  drifted  past,  and  with  it  disappeared  the  inces- 
sant persecuting  flies.  Autumn,  with  all  that  brilliant  col- 
oring so  remarkable  in  America,  made  its  appearance,  and 
the  oppressive  heat  gave  way  to  the  most  desirable  temper- 
ature. An  English  autumn  to  me  is  always  sad ;  an  Amer- 
ican autumn  is  quite  the  reverse :  the  hues  and  colors  of  the 
former  are  sombre;  in  those  of  the  latter  brilliancy  unsur- 
passable predominates.  An  American  autumn,  once  seen, 
makes  as  lasting  an  impression  on  the  memory  of  mature 
age  as  the  gorgeous  fairy  scene  of  the  pantomime  when 
first  beheld  upon  that  of  youth.  For  some  time  none  of  the 
bright-hued  fish  had  been  taken,  and  I  much  feared  that  my 
acquaintance  with  them  for  that  year  had  terminated ;  but 
not  so — a  few  sharp  nights  of  frost  took  place,  and,  going 
one  morning  to  obtain  sufficient  fish  for  breakfast,  in  the 
run  that  formed  the  exit  of  the  river  from  the  lake,  I  with 
pleasure,  in  succession,  captured  several  of  the  beauties. 
From  that  day  forward  they  became  more  numerous,  and 
the  last  morning's  fishing  which  I  here  enjoyed,  with  the 
snow  flying  so  thick  that  I  could  scarcely  see  my  flies,  I 
killed  not  only  the  greatest  number,  but  the  heaviest  of  the 
brilliant  representatives  I  had  captured  during  the  season. 
With  regret  I  turned  my  back  upon  the  three  lonely,  love- 
ly lakes,  with  the  following  unpronounceable  Indian  names : 
Molleychunkeymunk,  Mooseluckmaguntic,  and  Moligewalk, 
to  seek  the  boundless  prairies  of  the  Far  West,  and  to  sub- 
stitute for  constant  companion  my  double-barrel,  in  place 
of  my  well-tried  tapering  fly-rod. 


356 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


In  my  experience  as  a  fisherman  in  Scotland  and  Ireland, 
I  never  knew  of  our  river-trout  being  captured  in  the  sea. 
On  Long  Island,  what  is  there  called  the  brook-trout  {Salmo 
fontinalis)  is  well  known  periodically,  when  practicable,  to 
visit  salt-water ;  in  fact,  they  are  constantly  taken  with  the 
fly  in  the  tidal  portion  of  those  streams.  The  char  of  Nor- 
way and  Sweden  does  the  same,  and  I  can  only  say  that 
both  these  fish  are  wondrously  alike.  On  the  other  hand, 
the  brilliant-colored  inhabitants  of  the  interior  lakes  of 
Maine  that  I  have  mentioned  can  not  do  so,  for,  if  they 
survived  the  descent  of  the  Burling  Falls,  their  ascent 
would  be  impossible.  Although  the  Arctic  char  goes  to 
the  sea,  the  more  resplendent  colored  relation  remains,  I 
think,  constantly  in  his  fresh-water  retreats  —  id  est,  sup- 
posing this  is  a  char.  To  me  it  would  be  particularly  in- 
teresting to  know  if  my  surmises  as  to  the  proper  species 
of  this  beautiful  fish  are  correct;  and  doubtless  there  are 
numbers  of  English  fishermen  whose  verdict,  even  from  my 
imperfect  description,  would  set  at  rest  a  point  important 
both. to  naturalist  and  sportsman.* 


*  Since  the  above  was  written,  the  surmises  of  the  author  are  found  to 
be  correct. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

The  Striped  Bass  is  known  the  entire  length  of  the 
sea-board  of  the  United  States,  and  is  almost  as  popular 
as  the  salmon.  The  reasons  for  this  are,  he  is  game  in  the 
highest  sense  of  the  word,  fighting  with  the  most  deter- 
mined obstinacy  as  long  as  his  strength  will  permit;  fre- 
quents alike  the  ocean  tideway  or  river,  taking  generally 
with  avidity  the  greatest  varieties  of  natural  and  artificial 
baits ;  and  ultimately  being  fit  food  for  the  most  fastidious 
epicure.  By  naturalists  he  is  placed  among  the  perch,  and 
has  been  named  Perka  labrax,  an  indignity  which  he  is  in 
no  way  deserving,  for  he  is  built  on  the  beautiful  lines  of 
the  salmon,  possibly  with  a  little  more  depth  and  beam,  and 
his  coloring  has  a  near  approach  to  that  of  the  lordly  Salmo 
solar  J  save  that  horizontally  along  his  sides  are  placed  sev- 
eral lines  (generally  seven)  from  the  gills  to  the  tail,  and 
from  which  he  doubtlessly  derives  his  familiar  name.  Early 
in  April,  if  the  weather  be  favorable,  these  fish  make  their 
appearance  in  the  rivers  en  route  to  their  spawning  beds — 
(from  this  date  they  become  the  object  of  attention  to  the 
pot-hunter ;  for  I  can  not  call  the  man  who  tries  to  capture 
fish  in  that  state  by  the  name  of  fisherman) — where  they 
remain  for  some  time,  probably  over  a  couple  of  months. 
This  duty  performed,  they  return  again  to  the  coast,  afford- 
ing sport  for  a  short  period,  then  disappear,  to  return  in 
September  and  October  in  immense  numbers,  gladdening 
with  their  advent  the  heart  of  every  sportsman. 

Their  size  is  so  varied  that  they  may  be  taken  from  the 
weight  of  a  few  ounces  up  to  sixty  and  even  more  pounds, 


358 


PRAJRIE  AND  FOREST. 


the  heavier  fish  generally  being  captured  late  in  the  season ; 
and  woe  betide  the  angler  if  unprepared  he  should  strike 
his  hook  into  one  of  the  leviathans,  for  all  his  fishing  para- 
phernalia will  certainly  receive  so  severe  a  shock  as  to  ren- 
der it  for  after-use  completely  worthless — that  is,  the  por- 
tion that  is  left  with  him.  After  spawning,  this  fish  does 
not  lose  its  condition  like  the  salmon,  therefore  his  capture 
immediately  subsequent  is  not  nearly  so  reprehensible,  the 
propagation  of  his  species  not  injuring  him  to  a  noticeable 
extent;  therefore,  if  he  be  fished  for  in  the  rivers  after  that 
duty  is  performed,  nothing  is  so  attractive  for  his  capture 
as  a  gaudy  sea-trout  fly ;  but  the  striped  bass  is  not  dainty, 
and  many  persons  of  experience  persistently  use  with  the 
greatest  success  a  piece  of  white  or  scarlet  rag  tied  over 
their  hook  instead  of  the  more  complicated  and  expensive 
imitation.  Fishing  in  the  sea,  however,  the  shrimp  is  the 
most  popular  and  gentlemanly  bait,  trolled  along  the  sur- 
face after  the  manner  of  the  fly,  at  which  the  fish  break, 
similar  to  trout  or  salmon ;  still,  there  are  days  when  you 
can  not  thus  allure  them ;  and  soft-shell  crab,  spearing  (a 
small  transparent  fish  about  the  size  of  a  minnow),  or  squid, 
have  to  be  resorted  to ;  even  the  spoon-bait  has  been  known 
to  be  successful  when  all  other  attractions  have  failed. 

Although  this  fish  annually  chooses  a  change  from  salt 
to  fresh  water,  still  it  is  not  necessary  for  his  existence, 
numbers  having  been  experimented  on  by  detaining  them 
for  years  in  fresh,  where,  instead  of  losing  flesh,  they  were 
pronounced  to  have  improved  much  both  in  size  and  con- 
dition. So  exceedingly  popular  is  the  striped  bass  in 
America,  that  those  watering-places  in  whose  vicinity  he 
is  known  to  abound  receive  annually  an  immense  influx  of 
visitors,  attracted  chiefly  by  the  prospect  of  enjoying  this 
fishing.  At  Kittihunk  even  a  club-house  has  been  built, 
and  a  very  large  association  formed  of  the  principal  gentle- 


f 


BLACK  BASS. 


869 


,'n 


men  in  and  about  New  York,  who  spend  a  great  portion  of 
their  summer  vacation  at  this  retreat,  and,  as  I  have  been 
informed  by  many  of  the  members  (some  of  them  salmon 
fishermen  of  experience),  the  sport  they  there  have  is  only 
second  to  what  they  could  obtain  on  Labrador  or  Canadian 
salmon  rivers. 

I  believe  that  this  fish  could  be  most  easily  introduced 
into  English  waters,  and  that  he  is  well  deserving  of  the 
effort,  for  he  is  very  hardy,  and  I  do  not  think  so  likely  to 
be  affected  by  the  pollution  that  so  many  of  our  streams 
suffer  from ;  they  also  appear  to  be  immensely  prolific^  for 
traflic,  netting,  drainage,  etc.,  may  have  reduced  their  num- 
bers— still  they  are  to  be  found  in  great  abundance,  even 
in  such  crowded  water-thoroughfares  as  the  Bay  of  New 
York,  Hudson  and  East  rivers,  that  any  person  duly  ini- 
tiated in  the  necessary  mysteries  can,  at  the  proper  sea- 
sons, confidently  expect  a  heavy  basket  as  a  reward  for  his 
trouble,  and  that  within  sight  of  the  numerous  spires,  store- 
houses, and  business  haunts  of  their  handsome  Western  me- 
tropolis. 

Great  and  unprecedented  trouble  has  been  lately  taken 
successfully  to  introduce  salmon  and  trout  to  the  Southern 
hemisphere.  With  how  much  less  difficulty  could  this  f  sh 
be  transported  here — no  tropics  to  cross,  only  one-fourtli  or 
fifth  the  distance  to  traverse,  and  steamships  to  be  found 
sailing  almost  every  day  of  the  week.  Certainly  this  mat- 
ter is  worthy  of  consideration,  for  not  only  would  thou- 
sands find  amusement  and  health  in  their  capture,  but  a 
wholesome  and  excellent  article  of  food  be  provided  for  our 
immense  population. 


Black  Bass  are  found  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Tliousand 
Islands  in  the  St.  Lawrence,  the  Niagara  River,  Lake  Erie, 
and,  in  fact,  nearly  all  streams  and  lakes  that  are  situated 


360 


PHAJRIE  AND  FOMEST. 


near  the  lino  which  separates  Canada  from  the  United 
States,  also  the  tributaries  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  riv- 
ers. I  am  informed  that  they  are  also  most  abundant  in 
the  Potomac,  into  which  river  they  were  introduced  twenty 
years  ago  by  a  keen  fisherman  who  possessed  property  on 
its  margin.  The  artificial  fly,  spoon-bait,  or  trolling  with 
minnow,  will  all  be  found  successful  in  their  capture.  From 
their  great  activity,  strength,  and  vitality,  very  strong  tackle 
must  bo  used  in  fishing  for  them,  such,  in  fact,  as  goner 
ally  is  employed  for  sea-trout.  It  is  very  much  to  bo  re- 
gretted that  the  efforts  made  of  lato  years  to  introduce 
black  bass  into  English  waters  by  myself  first,  and  Mr. 
Parnaby,  of  Borrowdale,  afterward,  have  been  a  failure,  for 
they  are  unquestionably  as  fine  a  fish  for  angling  purposes 
as  any  we  possess,  and  as  an  article  of  food  aro  equal  to 
our  best. 

On  the  Wabash  I  have  had  some  magnificent  black  bass 
fishing.  About  one  mile  and  a  half  above  the  town  of  Vin- 
cennes,  in  Indiana,  a  small  rivulet  enters  it.  When  floods 
occur  in  the  parent  stream  the  backwater  in  the  tributary 
invariably  swarms  with  black  bass,  pike,  and  cat-fish,  as 
long  as  the  water  Is  on  the  increase ;  and  so  ravenous  will 
these  different  species  become,  that,  as  quick  as  you  can 
supply  your  hook  with  bait,  so  rapidly  will  the  fisherman 
catch  them;  but  the  instant  the  volume  of  water  com- 
mences to  abate  all  will  cease  to  feed,  and  the  disciple  of 
Izaak  Walton  goes  unrewarded.  All  the  tributary  streams 
of  the  Ohio  and  Upper  Mississippi  are  well  stocked  with 
black  bass ;  but  there  are  few  places  where  I  have  enjoyed 
better  sport  than  at  Mount  Carmel,  on  the  Wabash,  where 
they  abounded  in  such  quantities  as  to  astonish  those  who 
had  never  previously  visited  this  pretty,  retired  village.  I 
believe  I  was  the  first  to  use  the  fly  for  the  capture  of  black 
bass  upon  these  waters,  but  so  successful  was  I,  that  in  a 


BLACK  BASS. 


361 


ill 


lan 


of 


red 


^ho 


ick 


marvelously  short  space  of  time  both  inhabitants  and  visit- 
ors adopted  my  method ;  but  there  was  no  use  in  being 
jealous,  for  there  was  enough  sport  and  to  spare  for  all. 
Another  admirable  bait  for  this  gamest  of  fresh-water  fish 
is  the  craw-fish  just  after  it  has  cast  its  shell ;  and  as  it  is 
clean  and  easily  handled,  if  is  much  sought  after,  but  unfor- 
tunately is  very  difficult  to  procure,  for  at  the  period  that 
it  is  in  its  primcst  condition  it  is  generally  buried  several 
inches  beneath  the  mud.  Americans  have  reason  to  be 
proud  of  the  black  bass,  for  its  game  qualities  endear  it  to 
the  fisherman,  and  its  nutty,  sweet  flavor  to  the  gourmand. 
The  black  bass  is  an  extremely  free  feeder,  and  is  caught 
in  all  the  various  ways  used  to  capture  trout.  He  rises 
freely  at  the  fly ;  with  minnow  or  worm,  craw-fish,  spoon- 
bait, or  almost  any  artificial  device,  he  can  be  taken.  On 
being  hooked,  generally  the  first  effort  he  makes  for  free- 
dom is  to  spring  from  the  water.  Look  out,  Mr.  Angler ; 
dip  your  rod  in  courtesy  to  him ;  for  if  you  neglect  the 
requisite  salaam,  your  acquaintance  will  probably  terminate. 
When  this  device  has  failed,  with  a  purpose  and  force  alike 
surprising,  he  makes  a  rush  for  parts  unknown,  and  not  un- 
til every  effort,  every  trick  is  put  in  practice  that  is  known 
to  the  fish  family,  can  you  get  the  slightest  chance  to  use 
your  landing-net.  I  have  frequently,  after  a  long  and  fierce 
struggle,  been  about  to  place  the  net  under  him,  but  the 
movement  was  enough :  though  apparently  exhausted,  the 
fish  took  a  new  lease  of  life,  and  a  further  trial  of  patience 
was  demanded  before  I  could  call  the  prize  mine.  In  shape 
the  black  bass  much  resembles  a  well-fed  trout;  but  is 
deeper,  and  thicker  made,  while  the  tail  is  remarkable  for 
its  breadth.  Their  weight  varies  from  one  pound  to  five 
l)ounds ;  yet,  on  the  Niagara  River,  near  the  village  of 
Chippewa,  I  captured  a  splendid  fellow  quite  eight  pounds ; 
but  I  was  then  assured  that  I  had  reason  to  congratulate 

16 


362 


PBAIEIE  AND  FOREST. 


myself,  for  fish  of  such  a  size  were  far  from  common.  The 
color,  as  in  all  varieties  of  fish,  varies  much.  In  clear,  run- 
ning water  they  are  generally  a  very  dark  green  upon  the 
back  (much  such  a  shade  as  the  darker  hues  in  mackerel), 
gradually  getting  lighter,  almost  to  white,  as  you  approach 
the  abdomen;  but  in  those  Southern  waters,  which  are 
strongly  impregnated  with  alluvial  deposit,  and  consequent- 
ly turbid,  the  back  of  these  bass  are  less  brilliant  in  shade, 
while  the  stomach  is  not  so  clear  a  white.  An  advantage 
that  recommends  them  is,  that  they  are  in  season  when 
trout  should  not  be  killed.  In  spring  they  spawn,  the  ex- 
act time  varying  in  different  water?  on  account  of  season 
and  position  as  to  latitude. 

If  I  may  judge  from  the  quantity  of  spawn  the  female 
contains,  they  must  be  immensely  prolific ;  for  although  the 
individual  ovum  is  small,  the  roe  is  very  large  in  proportion 
to  the  bulk  of  the  fish.  From  my  own  observation  and  in- 
quiries, I  believe  that  the  spawn  is  from  sixteen  to  twenty 
days  in  maturing,  after  being  deposited,  which  would  give 
ample  time  fur  its  transportation  across  the  Atlantic.  I  am 
further  of  opinion  that,  indiscriminately,  gravel  or  soil  bot- 
tom is  se^'»oted  on  which  to  deposit  the  eggs;  for  many  of 
the  rivers  and  ponds  in  which  I  have  captured  this  bass 
flowed  through,  or  were  situated  in  deep  bottom  -  lands, 
where  a  stone,  even  as  large  as  a  pebble,  would  be  difficult 
to  find.  One  pond  in  Southern  Illinois  I  particularly  re- 
mei'iber ;  it  covered  a  space  of  about  thirty  acres,  with  an 
average  depth  of  about  three  feet,  except  in  the  southern 
extremity,  where  about  eight  feet  of  water  could  be  found. 
The  bottom  was  entirely  composed  of  mud ;  yet  this  pond 
swarmed  with  black  bass.  Lake  Champlain,  the  St.  Law- 
rence, and  Lake  Ontario  (all  who  have  visited  these  regions 
will  remember)  are  remarkably  olear,  with  gravelly  or  rockT' 
bottoms,  and  each  is  a  favorite  haunt  of  this  fish. 


8TRAN0E  FISH. 


363 


;kv 


A  friend,  once  a  resident  of  the  Isle  of  Skye,  and  a  well- 
known  sncoessful  trout  and  salmon  fisherman,  had  a  beauti- 
ful little  lake,  about  ten  acres  In  extent,  on  his  estate,  not 
many  miles  from  Toronto,  which  he  had  stocked  with  black 
bass.  In  a  few  years  their  numbers  so  much  increased 
that,  in  an  hour  or  two's  trolling  of  an  evening,  a  dozen  or 
more  could  easily  be  taken.  This  lake  had  neither  outlet 
nor  inlet,  but  was  supplied  with  water  from  springs  in  the 
bottom. 

I  fear  it  will  be  almost  deemed  heresy  to  place  this  fish 
on  a  par  with  the  trout ;  at  least,  some  such  idea  I  had 
when  I  first  heard  the  two  compared ;  but  I  am  bold,  and 
will  go  farther.  I  consider  he  is  the  superior  of  the  two, 
for  he  is  equally  good  as  an  article  of  food,  and  much 
stronger  and  untiring  in  his  efforts  to  escape  when  hooked. 

A  description  of  a  draught  of  fishes  from  a  favorite  black- 
bass  pond  in  Southern  Indiana  may  not  be  without  interest 
to  the  reader,  as  it  will  give  some  idea  of  the  varieties  to 
be  found  in  Western  waters. 

When  returning  from  shooting  pinnated  grouse  in  the 
State  of  Illinois,  I  came  upon  a  party  of  farmers  who  were 
netting  a  pond  on  the  edge  of  the  timber  land.  This  sheet 
of  water  was  about  two-thirds  of  a  mile  long,  with  an  aver- 
age breadth  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards.  The  bottom 
was  composed  of  mud,  except  the  southern  end,  where  it 
was  gravel.  Only  when  very  high  floods  occurred  in  the 
Wabash  River  was  there  an  outlet  or  inlet  to  this  piece  of 
water ;  still,  I  knew  it  was  well  stocked  with  fish,  for  on  a 
previous  evening,  as  I  stood  on  its  margin  as  the  sun  went 
down,  waiting  for  wild  duck,  I  had  seen  the  surface  in  por- 
tions broken  into  spray  with  the  fishes'  numerous  pastimes, 
or  energetic  pursuit  of  their  prey.  With  curiosity  I  stop- 
ped to  see  the  result  of  the  first  haul,  and  well  was  my  pa- 
tience rewarded,  for  what  food  for  study  was  in  the  result  I 


864 


PRAiniE  AND  FOREST. 


First  and  foremost,  from  the  size  and  peculiarity  of  forma- 
tion, I  will  mention  what  the  fishermen  designated  a  "  spoon- 
bill cat-fish" — a  name  without  doubt  given  by  some  one 
who  knew  as  little  about  genus  and  species  as  a  cow  does 
about  a  watch-pocket.  This  curious  fish  was  beautifully 
shaped,  with  all  those  perfections  that  characterize  the  sal- 
mon family ;  but  projecting  from  his  head  was  a  muscular 
continuation  about  sixteen  inches  long  and  six  broad  in  the 
centre,  not  unlike  the  blade  of  a  canoe-paddle.  This  spoon- 
bill was  entirely  separated  from  and  projecting  over  and 
independent  of  the  mouth,  the  lower  jaw  being  in  its  ordi- 
nary place;  nor  was  the  mouth  large.  As  nature  forms 
nothing  without  purpose,  of  what  use  was  this  projection? 
My  own  idea  is  that  it  was  a  feeler,  used  in  poking  about 
through  the  weeds,  decayed  vegetation,  and  mud :  and  by 
its  sensitiveness  the  fish  was  enabled  to  find  his  food.  On 
liandling  this  rara  piscis,  I  found  that  the  slightest  pressure 
on  this  attachment  appeared  to  produce  intense  pain.  The 
skin  was  entirely  free  from  scales,  from  the  tail  to  the  ter- 
mination of  the  projection,  and  was  very  smooth  and  soft, 
not  at  all  dissimilar  to  that  of  an  eel.  For  a  trifle  I  secured 
the  prize,  as  I  was  assured  he  was  an  excellent  table  addi- 
tion ;  and  my  informants  were  perfectly  correct.  I  after- 
ward cut  up  the  proboscis  to  satisfy  my  curiosity,  and 
found  it  entirely  composed  of  gristle,  the  surface  under- 
neath the  skin  being  a  labyrinth  of  veins.  Afterward  I 
saw,  at  different  times,  many  of  this  curious  family,  thus 
proving  that  they  are  in  no  way  rare ;  still,  I  have  never 
seen  them  mentioned  by  naturalists.  Probably  it  is  ex- 
clusively confined  to  inland  American  waters.  Further,  I 
would  say  the  vitality  was  remarkable,  for  after  transport- 
ing it  home  it  lived  for  over  an  hour.  The  weight  of  the 
entire  fish  was  probably  about  sixteen  pounds.  The  next 
attraction  noticed  was  what  is  familiarly  known  in  that 


WESTERN  CARP. 


365 


vicinity  as  the  "pond  fish."  In  color  it  much  resembles 
the  beautiful  black  bass,  in  shape  slender  but  graceful;  the 
placement  of  the  fins  is  the  same  as  in  the  pike  family,  but 
the  head  is  small,  and  not  unlike  that  of  a  trout.  It  is  a 
greedy  feeder,  and,  from  its  being  uneatable  (the  flesh  being 
hard  and  rank),  is  considered  a  great  bore  by  the  fishermen. 
Their  average  weight  is  from  two  to  four  pounds.  Still  an- 
other variety  with  which  I  had  been  previously  unacquaint- 
ed was  taken,  viz.,  "  the  Great  Western  carp,"  there  called 
"  the  bufTalo-fish."  It  is  frequently  captured  of  enormous 
size — several  I  have  seen  over  twenty  pounds.  They  are 
much  and  deservedly  esteemed,  and  are  taken  in  immense 
numbers  in  the  spring  of  the  year  by  spearing ;  for  as  soon 
as  a  flood  takes  place,  when  the  water  is  rising,  they  rush 
out  over  all  the  inundated  lands,  wherever  there  is  suflicient 
depth  for  them  to  swim.  For  more  than  an  hour  one  day 
I  watched  a  lad,  spear  in  hand,  who  had  taken  his  post  over 
an  opening  which  passed  under  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi 
Railroad,  made  similar  to  a  sluice  for  the  purpose  of 
preventing  the  water  in  time  of  floods  becoming  dammed. 
During  my  stay  this  youngster  mii  t  have  killed  a  couple 
of  hundred-weight. 

You  must  not  imagine  that  these  were  all  that  were  in 
the  net.  Sim-fish,  pike,  pickerel,  black  bass,  catfish,  mullet, 
and  turtle  to  a  wagon-load  rewarded  the  fishermen's  efforts. 
In  the  end  of  the  bag,  I  was  about  to  place  my  hand  upon 
what  I  considered  a  rare  prize,  when  I  was  stopped  by  the 
rough  intervention  of  one  of  the  people,  and  the  exclama- 
tion of  "You  don't  want  to  die  before  your  time?  If  he 
bite  you,  all  the  whisky  in  the  county  won't  save  you." 
(Whisky  is  considered  an  infallible  cure  for  snake-bites.) 
This  nondescript  to  be  avoided  was  like  Siebold's  salaman- 
der, with  four  of  the  smallest  and  most  awkward-lookinsr 
legs ;  the  brute  was  about  fourteen  inches  long,  and  was 


366 


PRAllilE  AND  FOREST. 


there  known  by  the  name  of  water-dog.  It  frequently  takes 
the  fisherman's  bait,  who  prefers  to  cut  his  line  and  lose 
the  hook,  to  becoming  on  any  more  intimate  terms. 

The  Common  Bass  never  exceeds  a  pound  in  weight,  but 
more  generally  is  captured  half  these  dimensions.  In  some 
streams — such  as  the  Niagara,  Iroquois,  Kankakee,  and 
White  rivers — it  positively  swarms  in  such  abundance  as 
to  become  a  trouble  to  the  fisherman  who  desires  catching 
heavier  fish.  In  shape  and  build  they  much  resemble  a 
well-fed  English  perch ;  but  instead  of  possessing  the  same 
coloring,  they  are  of  a  dark  copper  shade  along  the  back, 
which  gradually  becomes  lighter  as  you  approach  the  stom- 
ach. However  much  it  may  be  despised  by  the  ambi- 
tious sportsman,  still  it  is  far  from  an  unworthy  fish  ;  for 
it  is  a  greedy  feeder,  exceedingly  strong  on  the  hook,  and 
last,  but  not  least,  excellent  when  cooked. 

In  American  waters  there  are  several  other  species  of  this 
genus,  no  less  curious  in  appearance  than  their  names — gog- 
gle-eyes, new  lights,  etc.,  etc.,  etc. — which,  although  not  in- 
different as  food,  still  are  unworthy  of  particular  attention 
by  the  fisherman,  as  their  size  is  too  inconsiderable  to  make 
them  worthy  antagonists. 


CHAFTER  XXir. 

MUSKALLONGE. 

Every  person  has,  more  or  less,  a  conception  of  what 
Fairyland  must  be  like ;  my  ideas  run  into  caves  and  grot- 
toes, with  shady  nooks  and  flower-clad  rocks,  ferns  luxuri- 
ously covering  jagged  peaks,  and  creepers  festooning  im- 
aginary roofs;  one  moment  the  eye  resting  upon  the  eva- 
nescent oleander ;  at  another,  gazing  with  admiration  upon 
the  pure  and  spotless  water-lily ;  but  to  leave  the  realms  of 
fancy  and  return  to  reality  is  but  the  work  of  an  instant — 
the  arousing  of  the  sleeping  man  to  the  realities  of  life. 

Fancy  the  season  of  the  year  autumn,  the  day  cloudless, 
with  the  bluest  and  most  transparent  sky  overhead  that 
mortal  ever  gazed  upon,  the  water  underneath  your  keel 
the  most  pellucid,  rapid,  and  laughing  that  eye  ever  rested 
on,  hundreds  of  islands  on  every  side  of  the  most  fantas- 
tic shapes,  trees  and  shrubs  crowding  every  available  inch 
of  soil,  covered  with  the  most  gorgeous  colorings  that  ever 
were  represented  by  the  arc  of  heaven,  and  a  distance  so 
soft  and  undefinable,  that  the  beholder  wonders  if  he  can 
not  see  into  another  planet.  Such,  in  truth,  is  the  St.  Law- 
rence amidst  the  Thousand  Islands  on  a  fine  day  toward 
the  end  of  September.  Where  under  the  sun  can  such  a 
scene  be  looked  upon?  I  search  my  memory  in  vain  for 
its  counterpart;  and  although  the  inland  seas  of  Japan,  the 
broad  and  placid  waters  of  the  Hudson  at  the  Highlands, 
the  palm-clad  islands  of  the  Indian  /rchipelago,  the  azure 
seas  and  skies  of  the  Mediterranean  rise  before  me,  beauti- 
ful and  perfect  as  they  are,  they  can  not  compare  with  the 


368 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


giant  river  of  Canada  and  its  surrounding  landscape,  be- 
cause it  is  "without  a  fault — perfection  verified. 

Strong  and  enduring  are  the  thews  of  our  boatmen, 
tough  but  pliant  the  ash  oars,  and  although  each  stroke 
they  are  bent  like  hoops,  still  our  progress  over  the  rip- 
pling, glancing,  eddying  water  is  slow.  But  delay  matters 
not  here ;  in  fact,  it  is  rather  pleasing,  for  it  affords  the 
spectator  time  to  gaze,  ay,  inhale  the  manifold  beauties  that 
surround  him  :  look  to  the  left  at  that  feathery  birch,  how 
playfully  and  daintily  its  long,  graceful,  floating  limbs  tap, 
tap,  tap  upon  the  rapid's  surface.  Another  rival  in  attract- 
iveness grows  close  by;  it  is  the  wood -grape,  with  its 
long  tendrils  floating  in  every  breath  of  air,  but  treacher- 
ously longing  to  lay  hold  of  the  tree  that  now  she  only  fans 
with  her  passing  touch.  And  the  red  maple  and  yellow 
maple  and  scarlet  sumac  crowd  together,  rivals  for  the 
palm  of  precedence  in  gaudiness  of  hues;  while  behind 
them,  in  calm  dignity,  towers  the  giant  pine,  looking  down 
with  unbending  dignity  upon  its  minor  surrounding  breth- 
ren. The  motion  of  these  Canadian  waters  itself  is  joyous, 
and  every  dip  and  plunge  and  jump  of  the  birch-bark  canoe 
seem  to  be  its  ebullition  of  excessive  animal  spirits. 

But,  unconsciously,  we  have  glided  out  of  the  swift  cur- 
rent into  eddying  back  currents ;  our  spoon-bait  trails  thir- 
ty odd  yards  behind ;  in  fact,  it  has  been  for  some  time 
forgo'tten,  for  admiration  and  thought  have  been  feeding 
upon  the  beauties  of  surrounding  nature,  when  suddenly 
we  are  recalled  to  the  fact  that  we  are  fishing,  by  several 
rapid  jerks  upon  the  line;  the  top  of  the  rod  bends  toward 
the  unseen  adversary,  and  the  reel-handle  spins  round  with 
unusual  velocity.  Now  comes  the  test  to  prove  your  knowl- 
edge of  the  gentle  art.  Take  and  give,  never  be  hurried, 
or  permit  excitement  to  control  you,  for  a  worthy  foe  yon 
have  to  struggle  with,  and  coolness  and  nerve  will  alone  in- 


A  GAME  AD  VERS  ART. 


369 


sure  you  success.  Almost  a  hundred  yards  of  line  have 
passed  through  the  heated  rings,  the  strain  commences  to 
tell  upon  the  foe,  and  second  by  second  the  pace  decreases, 
till  ultimately  the  adversary  changes  the  route  he  pursued, 
enabling  the  fishorman  tc  recover  many  a  yard  of  the  tough 
line.  The  battle  is  not  yet  finished  ;  a  movement  frightens 
the  prey,  and  a  second  dash  is  made  for  freedom,  but  it  is 
a  feeble  effort,  and  unworthy  to  be  compared  to  the  first; 
still,  it  is  the  last  struggle  made  for  life,  and  the  giant  pike 
is  drawn  within  reach  of  the  gaff,  and  soon  flounders  in 
the  bottom  of  the  skiff.  It  is  a  splendid  fish,  dark  bronze 
upon  the  back,  white  as  mother-of-pearl  along  the  vent, 
well-made  and  handsome  but  for  the  alligator-shaped  head. 
For  a  member  of  the  family  to  which  he  belongs,  he  is 
wondrously  game ;  for  a  salmon  of  the  same  proportions, 
he  is  a  wondrous  cur. 

It  is  beyond  a  doubt  that  muskallonge  have  been  cap- 
tured exceeding  eighty  pounds,  but  such  leviathans  are 
very  scarce,  their  average  weight  being  from  fifteen  to 
twenty-five. 

For  edible  purposes  they  are  much  superior  to  the  pike, 
for  they  are  firm  and  not  insipid  in  taste.  In  fact,  I  can 
recall  on  more  than  one  occasion,  when  they  have  been 
roasted  in  wood-ashes  by  our  camp-fire,  that  they  have  giv- 
en so  much  satisfaction,  possibly  resulting  from  the  pro- 
verbial hunter's  appetite,  that  it  would  have  puzzled  the 
most  celebrated  cook  to  have  produced  any  thing  that 
would  have  been  more  enjoyed. 


PIKE. 

This  species  is  very  abundant  throughout  all  the  waters 
of  the  Northern  United  States  and  Canadas  that  are  suited 
for  its  residence.  However,  the  familiar  name  which  heads 
this  chapter  is  almost  unknown  in  the  Western  Land,  its 

16* 


370 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


place  being  usurped  by  the  sobriquet  pickerel,  the  same 
misnomers  occurring  among  fish  which  are  so  abundantly 
applied  to  the  feathered  and  four-footed  game. 

The  best  pike-fishing  I  have  ever  enjoyed  in  my  life  was 
in  the  Holland  River,  about  thirty  miles  north  of  Toronto, 
near  its  junction  with  Lake  Simcoe.  Here  the  fish  are  very 
large,  and  if  caught  in  a  taking  humor  the  most  greedy  for 
sport  will  have  their  appetite  abundantly  satisfied.  The 
eye  of  the  connoisseur  in  piscatorial  matters  could  not  find 
a  stream  better  suited  in  every  particular  for  becoming  the 
habitat  of  the  pike  than  the  river  just  mentioned,  for  it  is 
densely  margined  with  weeds  on  both  sides,  with  a  deep 
sluggish  channel  between  them,  and  such  are  its  character- 
istic features  for  many  a  mile.  If  the  sportsman  visited 
this  haunt  in  spring  or  autumn,  he  should  not  fail  to  have 
his  gun  with  him,  for  innumerable  wild  fowl  frequent  it 
in  their  migrations  North  and  South ;  in  fact,  at  sunset  and 
break  of  day  I  have  seen  the  entire  surface  of  its  placid 
waters  covered  with  them.  Deer,  also,  were  formerly  very 
abundant  here,  but  I  fear  that  such  is  not  now  the  case.  I 
can  remember  as  if  it  were  but  yesterday,  although  twenty 
and  more  years  have  slipped  past  since  then,  I  was  upon  the 
upper  deck  of  a  steamboat,  talking  to  its  skipper,  while  the 
obedient  vessel  carefully  threaded  the  erratic  course  of  the 
Holland  River,  when  my  companion  exclaimed,  "  Here 
comes  a  buck !"  and  darted  for  the  wheel-house ;  in  an  in- 
stant he  rejoined  me,  rifle  in  hand ;  for  some  minutes  we 
lost  sight  of  the  beautiful  deer  in  the  tall  reeds,  but  soon 
afterward  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  him  breasting  the 
waves  as  he  headed  for  the  opposite  bank.  The  game  be- 
ing behind  us,  pitching  and  tossing  in  the  ground-swell 
caused  by  the  passage  of  our  craft,  the  captain  delayed 
firing  till  the  deer  gained  the  margin ;  in  the  halt  that  ho 
made  to  recover  his  strength,  the  better  to  be  able  to  with- 


I 


THE  'KANKAKEE. 


871 


draw  liis  feet  from  the  sticky,  muddy  bottom,  the  rifle  was 
slowly  brought  to  bear  upon  the  quarry's  heart,  and  with 
the  report  the  gallant  animal  gave  a  tremendous  struggle, 
and  pitched  headlong,  to  rise  no  more. 

Excuse  my  wandering  from  my  subject,  but  as  I  see  in 
memory  the  Holland  River,  the  little  episode  narrated  rises 
before  me. 

Another  river,  similar  in  its  characteristics  to  the  Hol- 
land River,  and  also  a  favorite  haunt  of  pike,  is  the  Kanka- 
kee, in  the  northern  portion  of  the  State  of  Indiana,  and 
whether  we  fished  with  shiners  (resembling  minnows)  or 
used  the  spoon-bait,  I  and  my  companions  were  equally 
fortunate.  For  a  week  we  tarried  here;  the  season  was 
early  autumn,  and  seldom  at  night,  when  we  returned  to 
our  encampment,  but  that  each  could  count  from  two  to 
three  dozen  large  fish  that  had  succumbed  to  his  skill.  Dur- 
ing that  visit  I  hooked  a  monster,  and  although  I  twice 
succeeded  in  bringing  him  alongside  the  boat,  I  had  to  suf- 
fer the  annoyance  of  seeing  him  go  off  with  several  yards 
of  my  tackle.  From  the  position  I  was  in,  I  was  obliged 
to  treat  the  foe  ver  cavalierly,  for  the  bottom  is  full  of  de- 
cayed timber,  and  the  limbs  of  a  fallen  tree  half  bridged 
the  water  down  stream,  to  gain  which  my  foe  made  the 
most  determined  efforts. 

To  state  the  size  of  this  pike  correctly  would  be  a  diffi- 
cult matter ;  still,  from  my  lengthened  experience,  I  can 
form  an  approximate  estimate,  and  do  not  believe  I  ex- 
aggerg,te  when  I  say  he  must  have  exceeded  forty 
pounds. 

In  Southern  Illinois,  on  the  tributaries  and  ponds  mar- 
gining the  Wabash,  I  have  killed  some  very  large  pike ; 
but  here  they  were  not  generally  so  well  fed  or  so  strong 
as  those  of  the  North. 

In  Iowa  I  have  also  been  very  successful  in  capturing 


372 


PRAIRIE  AND  POREST. 


this  fish,  but  in  that  State  they  do  not  run  so  large  in  my 
experience  as  in  the  more  Eastern  waters. 

In  the  Lake  of  the  Woods  (a  few  years  ago,  if  I  had 
spoken  of  this  distant  sheet  of  water,  I  would  have  been 
laughed  at,  but,  thanks  to  Colonel  [now  General]  Wolseley's 
opening  a  road  to  the  Red  River  and  the  settlement  of 
Manitoba,  it  is  now  within  easy  access),  I  was  informed  by 
a  half-breed  residing  at  Fort  Garry  that  its  waters  teemed 
•with  gigantic  pike  that  had  but  to  be  tried  for  to  obtain. 
From  my  knowledge  of  the  marshy  nature  of  the  country 
that  surrounds  this  silent  sheet  of  water,  I  have  little  doubt 
that  my  informant  spoke  the  truth. 

When  no  other  fishing  is  to  be  obtained  more  worthy  of 
the  sportsman's  skill,  let  him  then  by  all  means  devote  his 
leisure  to  the  capture  of  the  subject  of  this  chapter ;  but  I 
would  sooner  take  one  salmon,  ay,  one  trout,  than  a  dozen 
of  these  fresh-water  sharks. 

But  let  me  shift  the  scene  from  the  valley  of  the  muddy 
Ohio  River  to  the  pellucid  Severn,  a  feeder  of  Lake  Huron. 
I  was  living  on  the  confines  of  civilization  literally,  for 
there  was  but  one  residence  farther  north  than  the  house 
of  which  I  was  an  inmate,  and  it  was  inhabited  by  a  canny 
Scot,  who  never  knew  what  it  was  to  take  a  day's  relaxa- 
tion, his  entire  energy,  early  and  late,  being  devoted  to  the 
improvement  of  his  homestead.  Shortly  after  my  arrival  I 
paid  him  a  visit,  but  I  found  that  information  on  shooting 
matters  would  have  to  be  obi  .ned  through  my  own  exer- 
tions ;  for,  more  than  a  complaint  against  Bruin  occasion- 
ally depriving  him  of  a  pig,  he  knew  literally  nothing  of 
the  sporting  capabilities  of  his  neighborhood.  It  is  always 
pleasant  on  a  new  field  of  operations  to  obtain  a  slight 
inkling  of  what  you  may  expect.  It  is  far  from  agreeable 
to  have  to  draw  a  charge  of  snipe-shot,  and  thus  lose  time, 
to  substitute  B  B,  or  perhaps  ball,  small  game  being  expect- 


VERGE  OF  CIVILIZATION. 


373 


ed  and  large  game  found.  In  wandering  about  the  neigh- 
borhood of  my  temporary  residence,  about  two  miles  from 
home  I  came  upon  one  of  those  beautiful  little  sheets  of 
water  so  frequently  found  upon  the  northern  portion  of  the 
American  continent.  This  soon  became  a  favorite  retreat, 
for  wild  duck  were  numerous  on  a  portion  where  wild  rice 
grew  luxuriantly,  and  passenger-pigeons  and  spruce  grouse 
had  adopted  it  as  a  watering-place,  owing  to  its  freedom 
from  intruders.  All  devoted  admirers  of  nature  know 
what  a  pleasure  it  is  to  be  alone  where  none  of  man's  work 
mars  the  prospect,  where  every  object  the  eye  rests  upon 
is  as  it  came  from  the  Creator's  hands,  unsullied  and  un- 
changed. As  I  sat  on  a  rocky  promontory  to  see  the  sun 
dip  the  horizon,  perhaps  visions  of  my  distant  land  or  far- 
off  friends  flitting  before  me,  I  was  struck  with  the  im- 
mense numbers  of  fish  that  kept  breaking  the  unrippled 
surface — good  evidence  that  the  rod  and  line  might  find 
abundant  work,  and  on  the  next  visit  I  determined  to  put 
it  to  the  test. 

To  those  who  are  acquainted  with  the  birch-bark  canoe 
it  is  needless  for  me  to  say  any  thing.  All  the  praises  I 
could  sound  could  not  further  enhance  it  in  their  estima- 
tion ;  but  to  those  who  are  not,  to  them  let  me  say  that 
there  is  not  in  existence  a  more  perfect  piece  of  mechanism 
for  the  purpose  it,  is  intended.  Only  learn  to  handle  it 
properly,  and  you  can  go  in  it  anywhere,  over  shoals,  down 
rapids,  through  channels  where  an  oar  would  be  useless, 
and  finally,  if  necessary,  you  can  take  it  on  your  shoulders, 
and  tramp  across  portages  where  nothing  but  an  ox-team 
could  transport  a  boat.  In  construction  they  are  models 
of  skjll,  yet  the  Indian  alone  knows  how  to  make  them ;  for 
although  a  white  man  may  occasionally  attempt  their  man- 
ufacture, they  never  do  so  successfully.  On  the  following 
^ay,  with  my  birch-bark  on  my  shoulders,  looking  like  a 


374 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


gigantic  animated  letter  T,  I  crossed  the  portage  with  a 
formidable  array  of  lines  and  artificial  baits,  full  of  most 
mischievous  intent  toward  the  finny  tribe.  This  day  the 
surface  was  broken  by  that  desirable  ripple,  whether  it  be 
for  trolling  or  fly-fishing,  and  dark  clouds  occasionally 
darkened  with  their  shadow  the  face  of  the  water.  With 
exhilarating  freedom,  deep  I  dipped  my  paddle,  pushing 
for  the  rocky  end,  waiting  till  I  had  crossed  the  centre  of 
the  lake  before  I  conmienced  to  fish  ;  for,  as  a  rule,  unless 
there  should  happen  to  be  a  reef,  seldom  any  fish  will  be 
taken  far  from  the  margin.  When  alone  in  a  canoe  one 
line  will  be  found  as  much  as  can  be  conveniently  attended 
to,  for  the  navigation  of  your  craft  requires  both  hands. 
Getting  under  good  headway,  I  soon  had  twenty-five  to 
thirty  yards  of  line  astern,  with  a  few  inches  of  red  cloth 
for  lure,  which  proved  so  attractive  that  I  almost  immedi- 
ately had  a  break,  and  in  a  moment  or  two  afterward  a  fish 
hooked.  For  two  or  three  hours  such  was  the  sport,  which 
continued  with  never  over  a  few  minutes'  cessation. 

As  I  pushed  slowly  along  the  shore  I  came  to  a  river 
previously  unknown  to  me,  and  which  I  have  since  learned 
is  the  only  outlet  from  this  lake.  The  edge  of  this  stream 
was  fringed  with  a  dense  net-work  of  weeds,  and  the  chan- 
nel had  scarcely  a  perceptible  current.  On  breaking  full 
in  view,  several  dozens  of  wild  duck  rose,  conspicuous 
among  whom  were  many  of  the  beautiful  wood -duck,  a 
gem  among  his  brilliant-plumed  race.  The  sedgy  nature 
of  the  shore  here  predicted  a  more  than  ordinary  favored 
retreat,  so,  replacing  the  red  cloth  by  a  large  Buell's  spoon, 
with  some  scaHet  ibis's  feathers  tied  along  the  shanks  of 
the  hooks,  I  tried  my  fortune,  and  such  was  my  success 
that,  before  I  ceased,  the  bottom  of  my  canoe  had  a  goodly 
show  of  noble  bass  and  pike — so  many,  that  I  was  satisfied 
to  select  three  or  four  for  present  use  and  hide  the  others, 


37*   ■ 


gigantic  aMiniated  lottor  T,  I  crossed  ()); 

formidable  nrray  of  lines  and  artificial 

mtscJ  iitent  toward  the  finny  tnb* 

surfnce  was  broken  by  that  desirable  rip]' 

for  trolling  or   fly-fishing,  and  dark  eloi, 

(larkened  with  their  shadow  the  face  of  t! 

exhilarating  freedom,  deep  I  dipp(  i 

for  the  rocky  end,  waiting  till  I  had  <  ■ 

the  lake  before  \  coTnmenoed  to  fish  ;  i 

there  should  happen  to  be  a  reef,  sehhini  any  tlsh  wi. 

taken  far  from  the  margin.     \A"heti  alone  in  a  canoe  one 

line  will  be  found  as  nnicb  hh  can  be  ebnvenipntlv  attended 

to,  for  tiie  naviga  ti- 


er it  be 

ionsdiv 

>n«'hini»' 
.  tHdess 


<ieiting  nnder  ^o(>>l 


Oiir<-' 


Vi^'i;- 


•'8ter!!. 


,<Mh 


atel) 

ho'^ked.  urs  8«  o  sport,  which 

continued  with  never  over  a  few  minutes'  cessation. 

As  J.  pushed  slowly  along  the  shore  I  (^an^e  to  a  river 


.  I  t 


eaiitiful  wood -duck,  a 


previously  unknown  to  me,  and  which  I  have 
18  the  on!  V  outlet  from  this  lake.     The  e«lge  • 
was  fringe*!  v'iHi  a  dense  net-work  of  wtMMle, ; 
nel  had  scare  urrent.     On  bn 

in   view,  sever 
among  wh' 
gem  among  his  bril: 

of  the  shore  here  })redict(Hl  a  more  ihm  orrfinfu 
retreat,  so,  reftlariing  the  red  cloth  by  a  hirge  Bu' 
with  some  £;earlet  ibi«'*  feathera  tied  along  tb*^ 
the  hQ«k>*,  I  trietl  ^ortune,  and  mieh  wa- 

that,  bel'ore  I  ceased,  the  bottom  ofi  nt /  ca» 
t  how  of  noble  bass  and  pik 

'/r  prest  ?)t  n 


iearned 
stream 


of 


;itl8tie<l 

•  he  others, 


J 


o 
c 
o 


I 


FISHING  THROUGH  THE  ICE.  37? 

with  my  birch-bark,  till  I  could  send  across  for  them  in  the 
morning;  but  a  couple  of  bears,  judging  from  the  different- 
sized  tracks,  got  at  my  cache  during  the  night,  and  had  the 
bad  taste  to  maul  and  pull  about  what  they  did  not  eat, 
so  that  I  rejected  it  as  unfit  for  food.  Fish  I  have  always 
found  the  most  tempting  bait  with  which  to  attract  Bruin 
into  a  trap,  so  I  built  a  bower-house,  and  hung  up  the  bait 
at  the  end  of  it,  with  my  trap  nicely  covered  with  leaves. 
Still  all  would  not  do,  he  and  his  companion  were  too  wide 
awake,  or  had  left  the  neighborhood.  This  lake  I  often  vis- 
ited again,  and  with  equal  success ;  the  influences  of  weath- 
er never  appeared  to  affect  the  fishes'  appetites,  and  they 
are  always  a  welcome  addition  to  a  backwoodsman's  fare. 
In  company  of  a  Chippe,*a  Indian,  I  also  tried  fishing 
through  the  ice.     The  method  ad o}^  ted  is  simple,  viz.,  cut- 

Bting  a  hole  two  or  ihreo  feet  in  aiameter,  over  which  is 
built  a  small  hut  to  keep  out  the  light,  and  sufficiently 
large  for  the  fisherman  to  sit  inside,  the  end  of  his  fish- 
spear  protruding  through  the  top.  With  an  artificial  min- 
now on  a  few  feet  of  line  in  the  left  hand,  and  weighted 
so  as  to  make  it  readily  sink,  you  attract  the  pike  to  the 
surface,  when,  with  a  dexterous  blow,  you  drive  your  leister 
home.  Very  much  like- poaching;  still,  where  fish  are  so 
abundant  and  wanted  for  food,  this  system  becomes  less 
culpable. 

At  the  northern  end  of  Lake  Couchaehin,  the  beautiful 
Severn,  after  tumbling  over  a  grand  fall,  starts  on  its  er- 
ratic, precipitous  course  for  Lake  Huron.     To  visit  this 
■  spot  was  not  more  than  seven  or  eight  miles  of  water, 

through  a  labyrinth  of  islands,  and  along  the  most  pictur- 
esquely beautiful  shore,  wooded  to  the  margin.  Beside 
the  fall  was  a  saw-mill,  belonging  to  a  descendant  of  the 
French  aristocracy,  who  had  emigrated  before  the  days  of 
"  The  Empire."    Whether  or  not  the  proprietor  happened 


3?9 


PRAIRIE  AND  FOREST. 


to  be  av  home,  a  cordial  welcome  could  be  reliea  upon,  and 
the  fishing  underneath  the  fall  was  always  excellent — some- 
times so  good  that  your  bait  would  scarcely  touch  the  wa- 
ter ere  it  ;va8  seized.  However,  there  was  one  drawback, 
for  the  spot  was  infested  with  snakes,  particularly  a  large, 
thick,  dirty-brown  water  species,  which  looked  exceeding- 
ly venomous.  From  the  indifference  with  which  the  mill 
hands  treated  them,  I  imagine  their  look  was  worse  than 
their  bite.  They  had,  however,  a  penchant  for  minnow, 
for  I  saw  one  captured  on  the  hook.  As  the  wild  fowl 
migrate  this  is  a  splendid  stand ;  for  if  the  weather  is  in 
the  least  stormy,  with  an  indication  of  cold,  the  ducks  keep 
passing  all  day,  and  their  flight  invariably  is  so  low  that 
they  are  well  within  range.  By  following  the  Severn  down 
to  its  junction  with  Lake  Huron,  plenty  of  occupation  can 
be  found  for  both  rod  and  gun ;  and  the  appetite  your  open- 
air  life  will  impart  will  make  all  you  eat  taste  superior  to 
any  thing  obtained  in  civilized  quarters. 


THE   END. 


.  -l-«? 


I 


INTERESTING  WORKS 

OF 

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Intresting  Works  of  Travel  and  Adventure.        3 


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BURTON'S  CITY  OF  THE  SAINTS.  The  City  of  the  Saints ;  and  Across 
the  Rocky  Mountains  to  California.  By  Captain  Riohard  F.  Burton, 
Fellow  and  Gold  Medalist  of  the  Royal  Geographical  Societies  of  France 
and  England,  H.  M.'s  Consul  in  West  Africa.  With  Maps  and  numerous 
Illustrations.    Svo,  Cloth,  $3  50. 

BELLOWS'S  TRAVELS.  The  Old  World  in  its  New  Face :  Impressions  of 
Europe  in  1867, 18GS.   By  Henry  W.  Bellows.  2  vols.,  12mo,  Cloth,  $3  60. 

CURTIS'S  THE  HOWADJI  IN   SYRIA. 

12mo,  Cloth,  $1  50. 

CURTIS'S  NILE  NOTES  OF  A  HOWADJL 

12mo,  Cloth,  $1  50. 

CUMMING'S  HUNTER'S  LIFE  IN  AFRICA.  Five  Years  of  a  Hunter's 
Life  in  the  far  Interior  of  South  Africa.  With  Notices  of  tlie  Native 
Tribes,  and  Anecdotes  of  the  Chase  of  the  Lion,  Elephant,  Hippopotamus, 
Giraffe,  Rhinoceros,  4&C.  With  Illustrations.  By  R.  Gordon  Cumminq. 
2  vols.,  12ino,  Cloth,  $3  00. 

DAVIS'S  CARTHAGE.  Carthage  and  her  Remains:  bein^j  an  Account  of 
the  Excavations  and  Researches  on  the  Site  of  the  Phoenician  Metropolis 
in  Africa  and  other  Adjacent  Places.  Conducted  under  the  Auspices  of 
Her  Majesty's  Government  By  Dr.  N.  Davis,  F.R.G.S.  Profusely  Illus- 
trated with  Maps,  Woodcuts,  Chromo-Lithographs,  «&c.   Svo,  Cloth,  $4  00. 

DILKE'S  GREATER  BRITAIN.  Greater  Britain:  a  Record  of  Travel  in 
English-speaking  Countries  during  1806  and  186T.  By  Charles  Wknt- 
woRTH  Dilke.    With  Maps  and  Illustrations.    12mo,  Cloth,  $1  00. 

DOOLITTLE'S  CHINA.  Social  Life  of  the  Chinese :  with  some  Account  of 
their  Religious,-Governmental,  Educational,  and  Business  Customs  and 
Opinions.  With  special  but  not  exclusive  Reference  to  Fuhchau.  By 
Rev.  .Idstus  Doolittlk,  Fourteen  Years  Member  of  the  Fuhchau  Mission 
of  the  American  Board.  Illustrated  with  more  than  150  characterlBtic 
Engravings  on  Wood.    2  vols.,  12mo,  Cloth,  $5  00. 

DU  CHAILLU'S  AFRICA.  Explorations  and  Adventures  in  Equatorial 
Africa ;  with  Accounts  of  the  Manners  and  Customs  of  the  People,  and 
of  the  Chase  of  the  Gorilla,  the  Crocodile,  Leopard,  Elephant,  Hippopota- 
mus, and  other  Animals.  By  Paul  B.  Du  Ciiaillu,  Corresponding  Mem- 
ber of  the  American  Ethnological  Society,  of  the  Geographical  and  Sta- 
tistical Society  of  New  York,  and  of  the  Boston  Society  of  Natural 
History.    With  numerous  Illustrations.    Svo,  Cloth,  |5  00. 

DU  CHAILLU'S  ASHANGO  LAND.  A  Journey  to  Ashango  Land,  and 
Further  Penetration  into  Equatorial  Africa.  By  Paul  B.  Du  Chaillu. 
New  Edition.    Handsomely  Illustrated.    Svo,  Cloth,  $6  00. 


4         Interesting  Works  of  Travel  and  Adventure. 

ELLIS'S  MADAGASCAR.  Three  Visits  to  Madnga?cnr,  dnrinp  the  Yenrs 
1883, 1854, 1866.  Including  a  Journey  to  the  Cai)itnl,  with  Notices  of  the 
Natural  History  of  the  Country,  and  of  the  Present  Civili/ation  of  the 
People.  By  the  Kev.  Wiixiam  Eli.ib,  P.H.S.  Illustrated  by  a  Map  aud 
Woodcuts  from  Photographs,  &c    8vo,  Cloth,  $3  BO. 

HALL'S  AUCTIC  KESEARCHES.  Arctic  Researches  ar-'.  Life  among  the 
Esquimaux :  being  the  Narrative  of  an  Expedition  in  bearch  of  Sir  John 
Franklin,  in  the  Years  1860, 1861,  and  1862.  By  Ciiaui.eb  Puanois  IIai.l. 
With  Maps  aud  100  Illustrations.    8vo,  Cloth,  Beveled,  $6  00. 

IIOLTON'S  NEW  GRANADA.  Twenty  Months  in  the  Andes.  By  L  P. 
IIoi.TON.    Illustrations  and  Maps.    8vo,  Cloth,  $3  00. 

KINGSLEY'S  WEST  INDIES.  At  Last:  A  Christmas  in  the  West  Indies, 
By  Cu  Ani.icB  Kikgsi.ey,  Author  of  "Alton  Locke,"  "  Yeast,"  &c.,  &c.  II- 
Instrated.    12mo,  Cloth,  $1  50. 

LIVINGSTONE'S  SOUTH  AFRICA.  Missionary  Travels  and  Researches 
in  South  Africa ;  including  a  Sketch  of  Sixteen  Years'  Residence  in  the 
Interior  of  Africa,  and  a  Journey  from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  to  Loando 
on  the  West  Coast ;  Ihe.ice  across  the  Continent,  down  the  River  Zambesi, 
to  the  Eastern  Ocean.  By  Daviw  Livinqstonk,  LL.D.,  D.C.L.  With  Por- 
trait, Maps  by  Arrowsmith,  and  numerous  Illustrations.  8vo,  Cloth, 
$4  60. 

LIVINGSTONE'S  EXPEDITION  TO  THE  ZAMBESL  Narrative  of  an 
Expedition  to  the  Zambesi  and  its  Tributaries;  and  of  the  Discovery  of 
the  Lakes  Shirwa  and  Nyassa.  1868-1864.  By  David  and  Cuaeleb  Liv- 
iMOBToifE.    With  Map  aud  Illustrations.    8vo,  Cloth,  $5  00. 

LAYARD'S  NINEVEH.  A  Popular  Account  of  the  Dii^coveries  at  Nine- 
veh. By  Adbten  Henuy  Lavabp.  Abridged  by  him  from  his  larger 
Work.    With  numerous  Wood  Engravings."    12mo,  Cloth,  $1  76. 

LAYARD'S  FRESH  DISCOVERIES  AT  NINEVEH.  Fresh  Discoveries  at 
Nineveh  and  Babylon ;  with  Travels  in  Armenia,  Kurdistan,  and  the 
Desert.  Being  the  Result  of  a  Second  Expedition  undertaken  for  the 
Trnstees  of  the  British  Museum.  By  Aubten  Henkv  Lavakd,  M.P.  With 
all  the  Maps  and  Engravings  in  the  English  Edition.    Svo,  Cloth,  $4  00. 

MACGREGOR'S  ROB  ROY  ON  THE  JORDAN.  The  Rob  Roy  on  the  Jor- 
dan, Nile,  Red  Sea,  and  Gennesareth,  &c.  A  Canoe  Cruise  in  Palestine 
and  Egypt,  and  the  Waters  of  Damascns.  By  J.  MACcinEooB,  M.A.  With 
Maps  aud  Illustrations.    Crown  8vo,  Cloth,  $2  80. 

NEVIUS'S  CHINA.  China  and  the  Chinese :  a  General  Description  of  the 
Country  and  its  Inhabitants ;  its  Civilization  aud  Form  of  Government ; 
its  Religious  and  Social  Institutions ;  its  Intercourse  with  other  Nations ; 
and  its  Present  Condition  and  Prospects.  By  the  Rev.  John  L.  Nevips, 
Ten  Years  a  Missionary  in  China.  With  a  Map  and  Illustrations.  12mo, 
Cloth,  $1  78. 

OLIPHANT'S  CHINA  AND  JAPAN.  Narrative  of  the  Earl  of  Elgin's  Mis- 
sion to  China  and  Japan,  in  the  Years  1857,  '68,  '69.  By  Laubknoe  Ou- 
riiANT,  Private  Secretary  to  Lord  Elgin.  Illustrations.  Svo,  Cloth, 
$3  60. 

ORTON'S  ANDES  AND  THE  AMAZON.  The  Andes  and  the  Amazon ;  or. 
Across  the  Continent  of  South  America.  By  James  Obton,  M.A.,  Profes- 
sor of  Natural  History  in  Vassar  College,  Ponghkecpsie,  N.  Y.,  and  Cor- 
responding Member  of  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences,  Philadelphia. 
With  a  New  Map  of  Equatorial  America  and  numerous  Illustrations. 
Crown  Svo,  Cloth,  $2  00. 

PAGE'S  LA  PLATA.  La  Plata,  the  Argentine  Confederation,  and  Paraguay. 
Being  a  Narrative  of  the  Exploration  of  the  Tributaries  of  the  River  La 
Plata  and  Adjacent  Countries  during  the  Years  186."?,  '54,  '55,  and  '50,  un- 
der the  Orders  of  the  United  States  Government.  New  Edition,  contain- 
ing Farther  Explorations  in  La  Plata  during  1859  and  1860.  By  Thomas 
J.  Paoe,  U.  S.  N.,  Commander  of  the  Expeditious.  With  Map  aiid  numer- 
ous Bngravings.    Svo,  Cloth,  $5  00. 


Interesting  Works  of  Travel  and  Adventure, 


PRIME'S  (S.  I.)  TRAVELS  IN  EUROPE  AND  THE  EAST.  Trnvels  in  Eu- 
rope and  the  Eust.  A  Yeur  in  Enf^iiuid,  Scotland,  Ireland,  Wales',  France, 
Beij^iuni,  Holland,  Germany,  Austria,  Italy,  Greece,  Turliej,  Syria,  I'aleti- 
tine,  and  Ej^jypt.  By  Rev.  Samuel  luicM^ua  Puimk,  li,i).  Enyravin^K. 
2  voIh.,  large  12mo,  Cloth,  |3  00. 

REINDEER,  DOGS,  AND  SNOW-SHOES.  A  Journal  of  Siberian  Travel 
and  Ex|)(<)ration»  made  in  tlie  Yearti  18t}&-'67.  By  Rumiarh  J.  Bimn,  latu 
of  tlie  Uii88o-American  Telegraph  Expedition.  Illustrated.  Crown  8vo, 
Cloth,  $3  00. 

PRIME'S  (W,  C.)  BOAT-LIFE  IN  EGYPT.  Boat-Life  in  Egypt  and  Nubia. 
By  William  C.  Pkimk.    Illustrations.    12mo,  Cloth,  $2  00. 

PRIME'S  (W.  C.)  TENT-LIFE  IN  THE  HOLY  LAND.  By  William  C. 
Pbimk.    Illustrations.    I'inio,  Cloth,  $2  00. 

SQUIER'S  NICARAGUA.  Nicaragua :  its  People,  Scenery,  Monuments,  Re- 
Rources,  Condition,  and  Proposed  Canal.  With  One  Hundred  Maps  and 
Illustrations.    By  £.  G.  Squiek.    Svo,  Cloth,  $4  00. 

SQUIER'S  WAIKNA.  Waikna;  or,  Adventures  on  the  Mosquito  Shore.  ByE. 
G.  Squikb.  With  a  Map  and  upward  of  60  lUuetratious.  12mo,  Cloth,  |1  &0. 

SPEKE'S  AFRICA.  Journal  of  the  Discovery  of  the  Source  of  the  Nile.  By 
Captain  Joun  Hanninq  Si>ekk,  Captain  H.  M.'s  Indian  Army,  Fellow  and 
Gold  Medalist  of  the  Royal  Geographical  Society,  H(m.  Corresponding 
Member  and  Gold  Medalist  of  the  French  Geographical  St)ciety,  &c.  With 
Maps  and  Portraits  and  numerous  Illustrations,  chiefly  from  Drawings 
by  Captain  Grant.    Svo,  Cloth,  ^  00. 

STEPHENS'S  TRAVELS  IN  CENTRAL  AMERICA.  Travels  in  Central 
America,  (Chiapas,  and  Yucatan.  By  J.  L.  Stephens.  With  a  Map  and  88 
Engravings.    2  vols.,  Svo,  Cloth,  K>  00. 

STEPHENS'S  TRAVELS  IN  YUCATAN.  Incidents  of  Travel  in  Yucatan. 
By  J.  L.  Sri  PUKNB.  120  Engravings,  from  Drawings  by  F.  Catherwood. 
2  vols.,  8vo,  Cloth,  $C  00. 

STEPHENS'S  TRAVELS  IN  EGYPT.  Travels  in  Egypt,  Arabia  Petraea,  and 
the  Holy  Land.  By  J.  L.S-rEi>UENB.  Engravings.  2  vols.,12mo,Clolh,$a  00. 

STEPHENS'S  TRAVELS  IN  GREECE.  Travels  in  Greece,  Turkey,  Russia 
and  Poland.  By  J.  L.  Stephens.    Engravings.   2  vols.,  12mo,  Cloth,  .$3  00. 

THOMSON'S  LAND  AND  BOOK.  The  Land  and  the  Book;  or.  Biblical 
Illustrations  drawn  from  the  Manners  and  Customs,  the  Scenes  and  the 
Scenery  of  the  Holy  Land.  By  W.  M.  Thomson,  D.D.,  Tweniy-flve  Years 
a  Missionary  of  the  A.B.C.F.M.  in  Syria  and  Palestine.  With  Two  elab- 
orate Maps  of  Palestine,  an  accurate  Plan  of  Jerusalem,  and  Several  Hun- 
died  Engravings,  representing  the  Scenery,  Topography,  and  Productions 
of  the  Holy  Land,  and  the  Costumes,  Manners,  and  Habits  of  the  People. 
Two  large  12mo  Volumes,  Cloth,  $6  00. 

WALLACE'S  MALAY  ARCHIPELAGO.  The  Malay  Archipelago :  the  Laud 
of  the  Orang-Utan  and  the  Bird  of  Paradise.  A  Narrative  of  Travel, 
1864-'62.  With  Studies  of  Man  and  Nature.  By  Alfked  Russel  Wal- 
lace.  With  Maps  and  numerous  Illustrations.    Crown  Svo,  Cloth,  $2  60. 

WELLS'S  EXPLORATIONS  IN  HONDURAS.  Explorations  and  Adven- 
tures in  Honduras;  comprising  Sketches  of  Travel  in  the  Gold  Regions 
of  Olftiicho,  and  a  Review  of  the  History  and  General  Resources  of  Cen- 
tral America.  By  William  V.  Wells.  With  Original  Maps  and  numer- 
ous Illustrations.    Svo,  Cloth,  $3  60. 

WHYMPER'S  ALASKA.  Travel  and  Adventure  in  the  Territory  of  Alaska, 
formerly  Russian  America— now  ce>;ed  to  the  United  States— and  in  va- 
rious other  Parts  of  the  North  Pacific.  By  FnEDEBioK  Whympeb.  With 
Map  and  Illustrations,    Crown  Svo,  Cloth,  $2  60. 

WILKINSON'S    ANCIENT   EGYPTIANS.     A  Popular  Account   of  the 

Ancient  Egyptians.    Revised  and  abridged  from  his  larger  Work.  By 

Sir  J.  Gakdneb  Wilkinson,  D.C.L.,  F.R.S.,  &c.     Illustrttted  with  500 
Woodcuts.    2  vols.,  12mo,  Cloth,  .^3  60. 


Harper's  Catalogue. 


The  attention  of  gentlemen,  in  town  or  country,  c'esigning  to  form 
Libraries  or  enrich  their  Literary  Collections,  is  respectfully  invited 
to  Harper's  Catalogue,  which  will  be  found  to  comprise  a  large  pro- 
portion of  the  standard  and  most  esteemed  works  in  English  and 
Classical  Literature  — comprehending  over  three  thousand 
VOLUMES — which  are  offered,  in  most  instances,  at  less  than  one- 
half  the  cost  of  similar  productions  in  England. 

To  Librarians  and  others  connected  with  Colleges,  Schools,  &c., 
who  may  not  have  access  to  a  trustworthy  guide  in  forming  the  true 
estimate  of  literary  productions,  it  is  believed  this  Catalogue  will 
prove  especially  valuable  for  reference. 

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